Dodgers sign James Paxton
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed left-handed pitcher James Paxton to a one-year contract for the 2024 season.
Paxton, 35, made 19 starts for the Boston Red Sox in 2023, posting a 7-5 record with a 4.50 ERA. He recorded 101 strikeouts in 96.0 innings while allowing 33 walks. It was his first full season since 2019, in which he went a career best 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA and 186 strikeouts with the New York Yankees. He had a banner season in 2018 with the Seattle Mariners, posting career highs in innings (160.1), strikeouts (208), strikeouts per nine (11.7), complete games (2) and WHIP (1.098). On May 8, 2018, he tossed a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, striking out 16 batters in the contest, becoming the first Canadian born left-hander to toss a no-hitter in Canada and the second Canadian born pitcher to toss a no-hitter in Major League Baseball history (other, Dick Fowler on Sept. 9, 1945 against the St. Louis Browns).
The Richmond, British Columbia, Canada born pitcher enters his 11th Major League season and his first in the National League. In 10 seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2013-18, 2021), New York Yankees (2019-20) and Boston Red Sox (2023), he went a combined 64-38 with a 3.69 ERA in 156 career starts. He was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Kentucky.