James Paxton

New York Yankees: What Will 2020 Look Like For James Paxton?

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

James Paxton became a second-half hero for the New York Yankees, with his final 11 starts conducting a mere 2.51 ERA and rattled off 10 straight wins for New York, and while wins aren’t a stat I like at all, the 10 wins were because of his dominance on the mound so I do credit him for them. Overall on the year a high 3 ERA and FIP doesn’t look fantastic, but it isn’t bad by any stretch. The only reason it looks weird is that Paxton posted better peripherals in Seattle and while Paxton finally returned to Seattle form, the question still remains: Which James Paxton are we getting?

Big Maple Poised For a Big Year

While I do have doubts about Paxton’s health in year 2, I don’t doubt his ability to succeed in the Bronx. Many people may point at his second-half like a hot streak, but I definitely disagree. Paxton’s ability to limit baserunners and the fact that Paxton was able to finally consistently start games instead of on and off injuries play a huge factor in why he finally settled in. He actually pitched better in New York with a 3.35 ERA and 1.17 WHIP at home, showing that he was consistently pretty good at home.

He was bad on the road, but it got much better because, in 6 starts of his amazing 11 game stretch, he was on the road. The road numbers look bad, but that’s due to 8 of them being earlier in the season. There is no reason to believe that Paxton is incapable of being close to what he was in that second half if he’s able to stay somewhat healthy in 2020, and he shows he can be lights out whenever and wherever when healthy.

Will Paxton Show Up in October?

While he didn’t show up much in his first postseason start as he got knocked out early by Minnesota, he still shows a lot of promise for October in New York. James Paxton had also been knocked out early in Houston, which was a rough start to his career in October, but no start by a Yankee in the 2010s has impressed me more than Paxton in Game 5 at the Bronx.

Down 3-1 the New York Yankees looked dead at home, with three straight losses to Houston, two at home. They had no energy from the crowd which seemed dead and not like the Bronx Zoo we’d been used to in prior postseasons. The New York Yankees looked like they would end their season right there and then as they were down 1-0 after the top of the first. Then the bats woke up and they had two huge longballs and it was 4-1 Yankees, but now Paxton had to dominate to win this game. He wasn’t good, he was all-time great in that game, beating Verlander head-to-head and telling Aaron Boone “I’m Good, Let’s Go” and finishing off his 6 innings 1 run performance and helping the Yankees live to see a Game 6.

That game shows one thing: James Paxton is the type of guy you want on that mound. He isn’t a quitter, he is tough as nails and will lead and the Yankees will follow. He is going to rise to the occasion and be a stopper in October, and there’s no doubt about that.

What Will the Numbers Be For Paxton?

In my opinion, they won’t be anything that puts him as a Cy Young front runner, more like a pretty good all-star caliber of pitching. In 2020 I got him with these stats (adjusted for 100 games due to COVID-19)

18 GS
95 IP
115 SO
3.25 ERA
3.30 FIP
3.35 xFIP
1.15 WHIP
2.5 fWAR

This season will be a good one for Paxton, and will also get him a pretty penny from Cashman in the offseason.

New York Yankees receive great injury news with James Paxton and Aaron Hicks

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

Great injury news from Yankees GM Brian Cashman on two starting players:

With Major League Baseball team owners and players in a showdown to determine the future of the 2020 season, the Yankees are quietly seeing their players return to full health. Before the coronavirus pandemic took full hold of society and suspended operations across baseball, the Yankees were scheduled to start the year without multiple players. Starting outfielders Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, and starting pitchers James Paxton and Luis Severino were all set to miss time.

However, all of this extra time off has allowed them to heal and hopefully return once the regular season begins (aside from Severino), which general manager Brian Cashman is optimistic about.

Cashman, spoke to the media on a charity video call Thursday that helps raise money for Family Centers, or Fairfield County, Connecticut nonprofit that is helping people impacted by the coronavirus.

During the call, Cashman was asked about injured pitcher James Paxton and centerfielder Aaron Hicks, who are both reportedly recovering well and ahead of schedule.

”He’s been tremendous,” Cashman stated on the call.

Hicks, who underwent Tommy John surgery after the Yankees exited the playoffs in October, has been swinging a baseball bat and started a throwing program. The Yankees would love to have their centerfielder back as soon as possible, given the injuries that continued to plague the unit. The idea of Hicks returning this summer is a “legit option,” according to Cashman.

The Yankees starting outfielder signed a seven-year, $70 million extension just before the 2019 season began, but he only played in 59 games. The hope was that Hicks could remain healthy and lock down the position for the next few years, but it looks like Brett Gardner might have some more time as a starter before his inevitable retirement.

Paxton, on the other hand, has been recovering well after having a cyst removed from his lower back several months ago.

“Feels great,” Cashman said of Paxton. “We’re fortunate to know that one of the better starting pitchers in the game — his issues, looks like they’ve resolved and it’s just simply now tuning up and getting ready.”

New York Yankees: A look at contract extensions for Yankee players, what you need to know

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

New York Yankees fans have wondered from time to time why the Yankees haven’t locked up young talents like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and others.  The answer is likely to surprise fans; it doesn’t have that much to do with the player, it’s the owner.  Plain and straightforward, Yankee owner and managing partner Hal Steinbrenner doesn’t believe in it.  That’s not to be said that it hasn’t been done, but it does suggest why the Yankees engage in contract extensions so seldom.

This past year was an exception.  Aaron Hicks was a season away from free agency at the time, though the outfielder chose to forego the open market in favor of a new contract that paid him $64M in new money through the 2025 season.  Hicks will reportedly receive a $2MM signing bonus in addition to a $6MM salary in 2019 before earning $10.5MM annually from 2020-23 and $9.5MM in 2024-25. The club option is said to be valued at $12.5MM (with a $1MM buyout), and while Hicks doesn’t have any no-trade protection on the deal, he’d receive a $1MM assignment bonus upon being traded.

Ace Luis Severino inked a four-year, $40M deal that covered his four arbitration-eligible years as a Super Two player, and the agreement also contains a $15M club option for the 2023 season, which would have been Severino’s first free-agent year.   The New York Yankee also arranged a contract extension for Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees designated closer.  Chapman declined his opt-out in this contract in favor of a contract extension that will bring him $48 million over three years.  It gives him another $18 million in the last two years of the extended contract.

Going back to Steinbrenner’s dislike for contract extensions, the New York Yankees have only given extensions six times in the last eighteen years.   One was for CC Sabathia, who, like Chapman, waved his opt-out in favor of a $122 million extension in 2011.  Another was the extension for outfielder Brett Gardner who, before his free agency in 2014, accepted a contract extension worth $52 million over four years.  Gardner also just signed a new contract that will keep him a Yankee for another two years. The last year of his new contract includes an opt-out and buy out.

The main reason for Hal Steinbrenner’s distaste for extensions is that all of baseball remains so fluid these days.  The market for free agents continually changes from year to year and avoiding extensions tends to give the club more options on a yearly basis. An example of that is that if fans got their way last year and the Yankees locked up Judge, Sanchez, and Andujar to long term contracts, It would have most likely not have allowed the Yankees to go out during this offseason and acquire Gerrit Cole for $324 million over the next nine years.

Back in 2010 Steinbrenner in an interview with the Associated Press, he shed light on the subject:

“I just don’t believe in contract extensions, and that’s throughout the organization, no matter who it is.  Hopefully nobody takes that personally. It’s just business.”

He also added that it’s just against company policy.   Some good examples supporting that is when star player Derek Jeter came up for an extension, it wasn’t offered.  Instead, Jeter went into free agency and eventually signed a new contract after some hard negotiations.  The same is true of superstar closer Mariano Rivera he went onto the open market before signing a new contract with the Yankees.

During this offseason, the Yankees not only did not offer any contract extension but did not take up any of the player’s options, instead negotiating with them separately for new contracts.  Don’t look for the New York Yankees to be issuing any contract extensions in the near future, especially to Aaron Judge or Gary Sanchez, who both have long term injury issues.  If there is another exception to the rule, that would most likely be issued to DJ LeMahieu last year’s MVP, who will become a free agent after this season.

In the case of James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka, both who are aging, it is likely that any new contract that the Yankees make with them will be made after the season has concluded if there is a baseball season this year.

 

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone provides an injury update on four key players

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks hits a home-run against the Tampa Bay Rays.

New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone gave us an injury update on four key players in a recent radio interview.

Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton was diagnosed with a grade one calf strain in spring training. He had just two plate appearances and was expected to miss an extended period of time.

“He’s doing really well and should be good to go whenever we get ready to go back,” said Boone of Stanton.

Aaron Hicks

Hicks injured his arm in August, and the team thought that he would be able to avoid Tommy John surgery. He was able to return for part of the postseason, but more tests after the season showed that he did need Tommy John.

“He’s doing really well,” said Boone. “He’s already doing soft toss from both sides of the plate and throwing out to 90+ feet.”

Hicks could potentially be the first player to undergo Tommy John surgery in the offseason and still play on Opening Day.

James Paxton

Paxton underwent surgery in February to remove a peridiscal cyst in his back.

“James Paxton, who’s gonna be ready in mid-May, is on that timeline,” said the third-year skipper. “He’s already thrown five or six bullpens, and I think he actually threw a sim game yesterday to a couple guys where he is. His rehab has gone really really well.”

Aaron Judge

Judge was sidelined at the beginning of Spring Training due to a fractured rib and collapsed lung sustained in September of 2019.

“He’s due for another CT scan, I believe in couple more weeks,” said Boone. “This time down has allowed that rib, that bone, to continue to heal.”

With the season possibly beginning next month, the Yankees hope that players will be able to report soon if they choose to.

Will the New York Yankees look to extend James Paxton in the coming months?

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

Taking a look at why the New York Yankees should invest in a James Paxton extension.

When it comes to starting pitching, health is predominantly a significant factor, and lefty pitcher James Paxton has faced his fair share of issues in the category. This offseason he underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his lower back and was projected to return in early-May. He made great progress this offseason and would have returned within his allotted recovery timetable.

However, Paxton’s injuries have made extending him a question worth considering. Letting him walk in free agency and bringing in a player with better health-history could be the efficient move, but Paxton proved his worth in 2019, overcoming his anxiety in the playoffs and dominating in the final half of the regular season.

He finished last year with a 3.82 ERA, his highest in 2018 (also his first season with the Yankees, which played a part). After a troublesome first half of 2019, Paxton bounced back and showed why he was a coveted signing, to begin with. The Yankees can trust him moving forward on the mound, and extending him wouldn’t cost too much at the end of the day.

SNY’s Andy Martino believes Hal Steinbrenner could find a way to keep him in Pintsrpires:

We’ll have to see how he fares during a shortened walk year. If he’s really good, here’s betting that Scott Boras can find a team willing to pay more than the Yankees. But the Yanks do like Paxton and wouldn’t mind finding a way to bring him back. It will all depend on the demand for him and the price.

Boras is a highly respected agent and is at the pinnacle of major deals in baseball, indicating that Paxton could earn himself a nice deal with a different team if he puts on a show in a shorted 2020 campaign. After his surgery, though, I would imagine working his way back into full-form will take a few weeks of live-action, which could easily set him back and give the Yankees an opportunity to sign him on a friendly extension.

New York Yankees: James Paxton injury update

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

It was announced in early February that New York Yankees’ left-handed pitcher James Paxton would be receiving surgery on his back that had come from a prolonged injury. Since that announcement, Paxton has been recovering very well and has been working on a throwing program.

Before the sports shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paxton was supposed to miss three to four months of the regular season with an estimated return during mid-May. His recovery has been going well and because of a possible delayed start to the season, Paxton could be ready when that happens.

Paxton has been throwing on a consistent basis at home in Wisconsin and is being monitored weekly as he does so. “He’s able to work out up there,” manager Aaron Boone said. Even though he is doing well during this time and has been progressing with his throwing, Paxton will still need a full “spring-training” if games begin.

Despite the obvious reasons to be negative during these times, it’s important to note that a delayed start to the season could greatly benefit the New York Yankees. Other big players such as Aaron Judge (Ribs), Aaron Hicks (Elbow), and Giancarlo Stanton have also been dealing with their own injuries and they could fully recover by the time the season starts.

Paxton was a big part of the Yankees’ success last season. He finished the year with a 15-6 record while credited to a 3.82 ERA. Due to his dominance shown in the second half of the season, Paxton was given Game One for the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins in which he won the decision.

The Yankees will start the 2020 season with a full bill of health

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

The late start to the season will give the Yankees plenty of time to heal and ensure they’re prepared to feature their starting team.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused every sports league to shut down operations and adapt to the new way of life during a global crisis. It’s essential to be aware of the severity of the virus and how it’s affecting the country, and sports are in flux because of it.

The Yankees have sat idly while the virus progresses and moves through the nation, informally working out from their homes and staying connected via zoom and other video-chat meetings. Most players have returned to their homes after cases spiked in Florida, around their facilities. Gerrit Cole purchased a house down in Florida near Aaron Boone, so the pair have been in contact and have played catch on a few occasions.

The extra tie has given players like Aaron Judge, James Paxton, and Giancarlo Stanton time to heal. If the league were to start today, Stanton would be eligible to return but would need live reps in the minors to work his way up to form. Judge is still healing from a stress fracture in a rib that was diagnosed late, and Paxton was projected to return in early-May.

With talks of the league returning in the next few months, the Yankees would have most of their starters back. Playing in Arizona with no fans would undoubtedly be a problematic situation, but it would at least give solace to fans waiting for the start of fans.

The idea behind baseball in Arizona stems from ten ballparks within a 50-mile radius. The heat is also an important factor to consider, as the virus reportedly cannot stand temperatures over 77 degrees. The league is considering triple-headers in the Diamondbacks’ Chase Field, which has a retractable roof.

New York Yankees: 3 influential players the Yanks could lose in free agency next offseason

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

With the 2020 MLB season in jeopardy, the New York Yankees have to begin considering what 2021 might look like for their roster and how injuries have played a part in its demise. In 2019, injuries plagued the team, restraining them from featuring their full lineup and pitching staff for a majority of the campaign.

A reliance on reserve players ultimately carried the Yankees to a postseason berth and o the ALCS, where they were knocked out by the Houston Astros under interesting circumstances. This season was meant to be a World Series-Caliber one, but due to the coronavirus and Spring Training injuries, the reality of a season is in flux.

Next year, though, GM Brian Cashman will have to make decisions on three influential players who are currently in the final year of their deals.

Here are three New York Yankees players who could leave in 2021:

1.) JA Happ

Happ played well in his first season with New York, despite pitching in just 11 games. He went 7-0, proving to be a reliable option and potential top rotational pitcher in 2019. However, the expectations were too much for Happ to handle, as he posted a bloated 4.91 ERA, leading him to take a backseat in the postseason.

With Luis Severino going down, Happ was thrust into a significant role, and the final year on his contract could prove to be vital for him and his future. His 2021 season is an option year, vesting if he pitches 165 innings or 27 total games played.

2.) James Paxton

Paxton has been injury-prone throughout his entire career, and going into the final year of a two year deal with the Yankees allows him a final opportunity to prove his worth and earn an extension with New York or elsewhere. The lefty arm recently underwent a procedure to extract a cyst from his lower back, but reports indicate that he’s progressing well and should be ready for the start of the regulars season. He will slot in as the 2nd pitcher behind Gerrit Cole, and the Yanks desperately need him to remain healthy.

1.) DJ LeMahieu

LeMahieu is also in the final year of his contract, and he’s the one player the Yankees shouldn’t let go by any means. “The Machine” posted ungodly numbers in 2019 en route to an All-Star appearance — .327 BA, 26 HRs, 102 RBIs. Extending DJ should be a priority for Cashman next offseason, if not well before. He’s an integral part of the team and can act as a quality utility player if need be.

However, ensuring he follows up his stellar 2019 with a second consecutive great outing would be the icing on the cake for an extension.

Yankees’ pitching coach Matt Blake delivers great update on James Paxton

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

With most players and coaches spending time with their families amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Yankees are still very much working and preparing for the start of the regular season, whenever that might be.

New pitching coach Matt Blake, who’s taking over for Larry Rothschild in 2020, has been keeping in contact with his pitchers despite the disruption, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.

“It’s like one of those like weird dreams where you’re about to do something cool, then you wake up and it wasn’t real,” Blake said on Tuesday. “It’s a very serious situation, but we were building and I felt like we were in a good rhythm in Spring Training. Guys were performing at a high level and were kind of coming together, getting a good rapport amongst the group. Then you kind of hit this hard stop.”

Blake also gave updates on pitchers like James Paxton, who are recovering from surgery’s this offseason. He said that Paxton was “doing well” at his home in Wisconsin, and “we feel really good about his progression.”

The Yankees could use their lefty pitcher come game-time, as they lost Luis Severino for the season after doctors recommended he undergo Tommy John Surgery.

How are the Yankees’ pitchers responding to quarantine?

Without formal workouts, pitchers have taken to home activities to keep in shape. They’re mainly responsible for their own workout plans, but the coaching staff is also involved in monitoring their progress.

“There’s no playbook here,” Blake said. “Nobody’s ever gone through it, so there’s no tried-and-true recipe to fall back on.”

Blake went on to say that the coaches aren’t being overbearing during these trying times, allowing players to take a step back and spend time with their families without concern. Once things begin to pick up again, normal routines will take action, but for the time being, the Yankees are setting boundaries within their organization.

New York Yankees: Matt Blake feels “really good” about James Paxton’s progress

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

Coronavirus has pushed back the start of the MLB season. The worst thing about it is that we don’t know when will that be. The New York Yankees, like every other team, are patiently waiting. However, while they wait, they are getting excellent news on the injury front.

Because of the delayed season, chances are that they will have every injured player back, except for Luis Severino, of course, who is out until 2021 with Tommy John surgery.

Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and James Paxton are all progressing nicely and are expected to be ready when the season starts, or shortly after.

According to what Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said Wednesday to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, he feels “really good” about Paxton’s progress.

Paxton started playing catch in early March, a little over a month after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his spine on February 5. Initially, his timetable was about three or four months, which would have meant losing nearly all of the first half.

But as things stand right now, a hypothetical season would start in June at the earliest, and July seems like a more appropriate target given that the virus isn’t yet under control in the United States.

The delayed start of the season will benefit Paxton

While it is a sad development, it represents an advantageous position for the New York Yankees’ southpaw to be, as he has a chance (and a very good one, at that) to be ready when things get rolling again.

The southpaw was solid in 2019, his first season in pinstripes. He had a 3.82 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 186/55 K/BB ratio over 150 2/3 innings (29 starts.)

He is slated to become a free agent in 2021, and he will surely want to have a great season to leave on a high note or to increase the chances of a reunion later down the road.