The New York Yankees were hellbent on adding a top-end starter this winter. Linked to multiple pitchers over the past several weeks, they’ve now added one of the biggest fishes of the group.
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, New York has acquired Seattle Mariners ace James Paxton in a blockbuster trade.
Source: James Paxton has been traded to the New York Yankees.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 19, 2018
Ryan Davish of the Seattle Times confirms the deal, noting that one of the three players heading back to the Pacific Northwest is top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield.
Can confirm …. Hearing M's getting three players, including Justus Sheffield. https://t.co/vFJf8RIn8g
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) November 19, 2018
This is a monumental trade in so many ways.
Paxton, 30, pitched to an 11-6 record with a 3.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 28 starts last season. He also struck out 208 batters in just 160.1 innings. He figures to headline New York’s rotation from here on out.
In return, Seattle picks up a top-end pitching prospect in that of Sheffield. He was New York’s top overall prospect heading into the 2018 season, according to MLB.com