Yankee fans were surprised on Monday afternoon by the news that the Yankees had traded for James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners. In return for Paxton, the Yankees traded three prospects to the Mariners:
Paxton is such a significant acquisition for the Yankees starting rotation.
After 12 wins and a 2.98 ERA in 2017, his first full Major League season , Paxton went 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA and 208 strikeouts in 2018. He became the second Canadian to pitch a no-hitter on May 8, when he blanked the Blue Jays on 99 pitches.
Rumor has linked the Yankees with several high profile pitchers, Paxton among others such as Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco of the Indians and Patrick Corbin most recently with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Fans expected the Yankees to make a move or moves to acquire starting pitching for 2019, but the first question from many fans after hearing about the Paxton trade was does this mean the Yankees won’t be acquiring Kluber?
Paxton, as impressive as his past two seasons have been for the Mariners, is not Corey Kluber, who is a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner (2014, 2017) and who went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA in 2018 and finished third in this year’s Cy Young Award voting.
Either Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman worked out his best deal first, dealing his top prospect for a number three pitcher, which is what James Paxton profiles to be, or he’s just warming up for the blockbuster trade that will bring one of the most elite pitchers in the league, to the Bronx.
Cashman has been quoted as saying that he hopes to acquire two starting pitchers, so fans can be sure that another big deal is on the radar, but does the Paxton move tell us anything about which way Cashman will go? I think it does, and would not be surprised if he tested the free agent market and if Patrick Corbin were the next acquisition Cashman makes.
Corbin, who grew up a Yankee fan in the Syracuse New York area, has been quoted as saying:
Corbin is an unquestioned ace, a 28 year old veteran of Tommy John surgery, who had a spectacular year for the Diamondbacks, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA, 11.1 K/9, 0.7 H/9.
Corbin didn’t allow a lot of home runs in 2018, which is either an omen or a fluke, but he also induces grounders more than the average pitcher, so he might be perfect for Yankee Stadium…Grant Brisbee of SBNation
Corbin would be an excellent fit for Yankees Stadium and would no doubt perform at the highest level for the Yankees, but after Paxton, he feels a bit like the consolation prize.
As always, Cashman keeps fans guessing what his next move will be and as far as filling the needs of the starting pitching staff, I expect he will bring Corbin in as his next acquisition, especially since it’s only money he’ll be spending, not players.
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Corbin was great last year. I’m not so sure hes an ace though. Severino and Paxton are both superior. Paxton has amazing stuff so does Sec. I doubt Cleveland moves Kluber to New York. But they have the depth to trade him and not miss a beat. It would be nice if they did, we’d actually see Tristan McKenzie in the bigs! Good article!