The Yankees drew down on their prospect capital when they acquired LHP James Paxton from the Seattle Mariners for minor league prospects
- LHP Justus Sheffield (#1 Yankee prospect per MLB.com)
- RHP Erik Swanson (#22 Yankee prospect)
- OF Dom Thomson-Willliams (unranked).
Paxton, who threw a career high 160 1/3 IP in 2018, has yet to stay healthy and realize his full potential over a full season. There’s no doubt about his talent. He throws in the mid-upper 90s with a low 80s curve.
The big lefty has averaged well over 10 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) over the last two seasons while compiling a 3.40 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Paxton is a solid number two in a 10-12 team Fantasy league and could be the number one pitcher in deeper leagues.
If RHP Luis Severino is the Yankees number one, then Paxton is number 1A. Could he be the pitcher that puts the Yankees over the top? The answer is a solid “Maybe.”
Sheffield, the highlight of Seattle’s return, was acquired by the Yankees during the 2016 season and has seen his prospect status rise in each of his two seasons with the club. In 2018 he put up a 2.48 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP averaging 9.5 K/9 across 20 AA/AAA starts. A fly-ball pitcher, he’s likely the biggest beneficiary of the deal. He immediately becomes the Mariners top prospect and should have a good chance to start the season with the big club.
RHP Erik Swanson was never really in the conversation to make the Yankee roster despite several holes in the rotation. He has big strikeout potential, posting a K/9 over 10 and should get a chance to make a Mariners rotation filled with RHP Felix Hernandez, a shadow of his former self, and back end mainstays LHP Marco Gonzales, RHP Mike Leake, and LHP Wade LeBlanc.
Could these two be an answer in Seattle? They might be.
Share this Post