James Paxton is trading in Red Sox colours for Dodger blue.
The veteran left-hander from Ladner has signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal is reported to be for $11 million with a $1 million Opening Day roster bonus and $1 million in performance incentives.
Paxton joins a revamped Dodgers rotation that now includes free agent signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow acquired in a trade.
Paxton pitched last year for the Boston Red Sox after battling back from a two-year recovery from Tommy John surgery.
In 15 of his 19 starts with Boston he had a 3.36 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
Paxton started his career in 2013 with the Seattle Mariners where he posted a 3.42 ERA in six seasons. He battled through injuries throughout his Mariners tenure making only 102 starts with the M’s.
He then pitched for the New York Yankees where he made 29 starts with the Bronx Bombers in 2019.
He has landed on the injured list 29 times in his career with injuries to his lat, left middle finger, forearm, left elbow flexor and his right hamstring, which he suffered in his spring training debut last year with the Red Sox, that pushed his regular season debut to May.
Despite all the injuries, Paxton remains an effective starter, evident by the deal the Dodgers presented and the hopes that he has a bounce back season.
Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training for the Dodgers on Feb. 9.
