Dodgers Reportedly ‘Working’ On Deal for Free Agent Left-Handed Pitcher James Paxton

The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly “working on a possible deal” for left-handed starting pitcher James Paxton. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the news on Monday night.

Heyman said the deal is “not done yet,” but he said it’s a possibility.

Paxton would fill the Dodgers’ biggest remaining need as a left-handed starter. The Dodgers’ rotation currently consists of right-handed pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan and Walker Buehler, who may miss the beginning of the season as he comes back from his second Tommy John surgery.

Paxton, 35, had a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts last season with the Boston Red Sox. He pitched 96 innings and struck out 101 batters while walking 33.

Paxton has been in the league since 2013. He spent the first six years of his career with the Seattle Mariners before joining the New York Yankees for two seasons. He then went back to Seattle for the 2021 season, missed the 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and came back in 2023 with Boston.

Paxton has a career 3.69 ERA in 156 starts and 850.2 innings pitched.

If the Dodgers sign Paxton, it’s unlikely to impact their potential pursuit of free agent left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw won’t be able to pitch until the late summer at the earliest, so he could still factor into the rotation after the All-Star break.

We will continue to monitor the Paxton situation and post updates when they come, so be sure to stay tuned on dodgersnation.com and follow us on X/Twitter @dodgersnation.

Photo Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports