The New York Yankees won 100 games last season, but finished second in the AL East behind the Red Sox and were bounced in the ALDS by their rival. The one thing that was clear was that they needed more starting pitching.
So GM Brian Cashman pulled off a trade for one of the more underrated left-hander pitchers in the league. James Paxton was 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA and 208 strikeouts for the Mariners last season.
Paxton deal to Yankees is for Sheffield, OF Don Thompson-Williams and RHP Erik Swanson.
— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) November 19, 2018
Sure the Yankees had to give up Justus Sheffield in order to make the trade, but he’s an immediate upgrade over most of the Yankees rotation from a year ago.
Overall it’s a good move by the Yankees and Paxton is exactly the kind of arm they needed to improve the rotation.
