It looks like former Yankee James Paxton, now in his second stint with the Mariners after a two-year layover in the Bronx, will be watching the remainder of 2021 from the sideline.
We knew something was off with Paxton when he exited his season debut against the White Sox after just 24 pitches Tuesday night. He’s since been diagnosed with a left forearm strain, an injury that will apparently require Tommy John surgery, per Jon Heyman of Audacy and MLB Network. Assuming the usual recovery time, it will be at least a year before Paxton throws another big-league pitch.
Known by his nickname “Big Maple” (a nod to his Canadian roots), the 6’4” hurler broke into the majors with the Mariners in 2013, remaining with the organization until his trade to New York five years later. Paxton has been effective when healthy throughout his career (57-33, 3.59 ERA over 137 starts), though durability has been a constant concern for the 32-year-old, who has never logged more than 160 1/3 innings in any of his nine seasons at the major-league level. Elbow woes limited the left-hander to only five starts last season.
Some wondered if GM Brian Cashman made a mistake letting Paxton walk, though obviously his injury changes that narrative. With Paxton shelved for the foreseeable future, it looks like the Bombers dodged an $8.5-million bullet. Paxton, who threw Seattle's sixth no-hitter in club history in 2018, will re-enter free agency this offseason.
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