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The Dodgers signed left-hander James Paxton to a one-year deal this week, although the monetary particulars of the contract modified from the preliminary reporting. Per a report as we speak from Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, an unknown well being subject led to a lesser assure, although it wasn’t severe sufficient to scuttle the deal fully.
As particulars of the settlement have been initially trickling out final week, it was reported as an $11MM assure for the lefty. However Rosenthal reported this morning that the assure was truly simply $7MM. It seems some form of well being concern popped up, which was sufficient to knock $4MM off the assure however not so severe as to trigger the Dodgers to stroll away. Paxton can nonetheless earn a complete of $13MM by way of bonuses* so long as he makes the Opening Day roster and ultimately makes not less than 18 begins. Neither the membership nor Paxton’s agent Scott Boras offered particulars for the report from The Athletic, citing HIPAA.
Well being or the shortage thereof has steadily been a problem for Paxton all through his profession. Now 35 and about to enter his eleventh main league season, he has by no means reached 30 begins or 161 innings pitched in a giant league marketing campaign. He hardly pitched in any respect within the 2020-2022 interval, with a left flexor pressure maintaining him to simply 5 begins within the shortened 2020 season. Then Tommy John surgical procedure worn out many of the subsequent two years, with a torn lat stopping him from returning late in 2022.
Final yr noticed some encouraging progress from these important damage points nevertheless it wasn’t completely easy crusing. A hamstring pressure within the spring pushed his season debut till Could. He was capable of keep wholesome from there till September, ending the season on the injured record as a result of proper knee irritation. His 19 begins and 96 innings pitched have been greater than he logged within the earlier three years mixed, however he additionally appeared to expire of fuel. He had a 2.73 ERA via his first 10 begins however then a 6.98 mark within the ultimate 9.
It appears he’s nonetheless not 100% however the Dodgers will take a shot on him regardless. He has a 3.69 ERA in his profession, pairing a 26.3% strikeout fee with a 7.5% stroll fee. The membership is mostly unafraid to financial institution on gifted gamers even when they’ve damage considerations, having signed guys like Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, Jimmy Nelson, J.P. Feyereisen and Alex Reyes in recent times.
They’re now set to enter 2024 with a rotation that includes loads of expertise but in addition a good quantity of uncertainty. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has a great deal of success in Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball however has no MLB observe document but. Walker Buehler missed all of final yr recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. Tyler Glasnow has by no means topped 120 innings in a serious league season as a result of his personal damage historical past. Bobby Miller was good final yr however nonetheless doesn’t have a full yr of huge league expertise. Choices like Emmet Sheehan, Michael Grove and Gavin Stone are equally unproven. Paxton would have already include considerations simply based mostly on his observe document however these will solely be enhanced now that he’s recognized to be coping with some type of ailment.
It’s additionally potential that the membership might re-sign Clayton Kershaw, because it has in every of the previous two offseasons. However he’s additionally a query mark, having undergone shoulder surgical procedure in November that can preserve him out of motion till midseason.
* Paxton can get a $2MM bonus both for being on the roster for the Dodgers’ season opener in South Korea towards the Padres on March 20 or their home opener towards the Cardinals on March 28. In any other case, he can earn a $1MM bonus if added to the roster earlier than April 15. Paxton may also earn a $600K bonus for making his sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth and sixteenth begins of the season, plus a $1MM bonus for reaching 18 begins. With $4MM in bonuses based mostly on begins and the $2MM early-season roster bonus, he might add $6MM to his $7MM assure, bringing his whole earnings for the yr to $13MM.
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