James Paxton DFA’d. Should we pick him up?

[Vanimal46]

Left handed and breathing. He fits our need for another starter. Probably not a wild card series starter but nonetheless, a starting left handed pitcher for basically free. 

[USAFChief]

Owed less than $3m for the rest of 2024, too.

EDIT: Less than that. $3M of his 2024 compensation was a signing bonus. Salary only $4M. About $1.3M left. No 2025 money committed.

 

Well below average numbers, but I'd prefer him to Festa while Paddack is out.

[umterp23]

lefty innings eater wouldn't be a bad move. A contending team will bite

 

 

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

He'd be an interesting option to fill the Paddack spot, and likely cheap in acquisition cost as well as salary.

On the other hand, I kind of expect (and hope) the Twins are aiming a little higher for pitching on the trade market in the coming days. I wonder if there tends to be a gentlemen's agreement for a veteran like Paxton (who's not quite at the Keuchel late-career reclamation stage) that a team wouldn't pick him up if they expected to send him back to the waiver wire a few starts later.

[Schmoeman5]

He pitched well last night vs Bosox after a shaky 1st inning.  Sign him up! His numbers are similar to Rodons.  

[SwainZag]

I say yes, yes, yes.  Gotta think that trade value is low. 

[DJL44]

He's only ever been a starter but I wonder if he could pitch better in relief than Okert or Thielbar.

Paxton is better than the worst pitcher on the roster so there is little downside acquiring him as long as it doesn't prevent them from acquiring someone else later.

[cmoss84]

We won't get the opportunity. 

[jorgenswest]

I think they have 7 days to trade him or he would go to waivers. I don’t think he will make it to waivers and even if he did some team would take him with an earlier claim.

What is the most you would offer in trade to get him? I would offer a player on the 40 that is a the fringe of DFA like Severino or a player that they will be making a rule 5 decision next winter like Keirsey.

[Brandon]

It looks like the Dodgers are looking for a reliever.  Could we send Theilbar or Staumont for him?

[USAFChief]

23 minutes ago, Brandon said:

It looks like the Dodgers are looking for a reliever.  Could we send Theilbar or Staumont for him?

We can send Thielbar even if we don't get Paxton.

[DJL44]

3 hours ago, Brandon said:

It looks like the Dodgers are looking for a reliever.  Could we send Theilbar or Staumont for him?

How about Winder?

[jaimedude]

I would take Paxton at this point. Seems like we could plug him into rotation. Send a lottery ticket, then DFA Thielbar or whatever Chaffee on 40 man. 

[Brandon]

If we are able to include Theilbar the deal becomes almost cash neutral.  That is why I included him.  but we could trade others too.  but I am sure if he is being DFA'd there wasn't much interest in him beforehand.  

Maybe we could include Dobnak and say Severino for Paxton.  I am not sure what it would take.  But I am just thinking of how to make the deal cash neutral.  

[mnfireman]

17 hours ago, umterp23 said:

lefty innings eater wouldn't be a bad move. A contending team will bite

 

 

Not really an innings eater, 89.1 IP over 18 starts is less than 5 IP per start. 

[USAFChief]

Boston "in the mix" for Paxson, per a Boston radio station. 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/red-sox-trade-rumors-dodgers-james-paxton.html

[umterp23]

2 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Not really an innings eater, 89.1 IP over 18 starts is less than 5 IP per start. 

so he fits right in for the dreaded 3rd time through the lineup mantra.  Paddack on innings watch rest of the year, so need a body or two help alleviate a straight bullpen game

[mnfireman]

3 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

so he fits right in for the dreaded 3rd time through the lineup mantra.  Paddack on innings watch rest of the year, so need a body or two help alleviate a straight bullpen game

Suppose they could piggy-back the two of them, 3 or 4 innings each. Now, who to DFA.....

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

4 hours ago, Brandon said:

If we are able to include Theilbar the deal becomes almost cash neutral.  That is why I included him.  but we could trade others too.  but I am sure if he is being DFA'd there wasn't much interest in him beforehand.  

Maybe we could include Dobnak and say Severino for Paxton.  I am not sure what it would take.  But I am just thinking of how to make the deal cash neutral.  

Don't think you'll see Severino in a deal for Paxton. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

IIRC, the Dodgers DFA'ed Paxton because they needed or wanted to move some pitchers back from the IL. I don't necessarily think they're looking for a major league player or even someone that they need to put on their 40 man roster. They might be content with the low minor lottery ticket.

[Fatbat]

The Dodgers will get multiple trade offers.  His value is still limited tho. I would think a josh winder would be enough 

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Don't think you'll see Severino in a deal for Paxton. 

I just picked a random prospect.  It could be anyone in the 20-50 range or 2.  I don't get to construct this trade.  but since I keep hearing that the Twins need to be cash neutral on a deal.  then getting Paxton needs to be a top priority and we can include a better prospect to take the salary of someone else.  Dobnak and Winder and Henriquez maybe. I know they want relievers.  any of those three can relieve.  Though probably not Dobnak.... maybe they prefer a different prospect. 

Also the Twins could just decide to cut corners on the draft budget ....say spend 250-750 k less than what they can spend.  They are already down 600k below their cap.  They may decide to not sign Dasan Hill instead of going over slot.  now they have the savings to acquire Paxton and keep it cash neutral.  I am not advocating this just making an observation as a different avenue of staying cash neutral.  

[nicksaviking]

The Dodgers top four guys in their rotation are on the IL with only Glasnow coming back any time soon. Paxton has lost 2 MPH off of his fastball and the ability to miss bats.

Unless a Dodgers team that's on pace to win 97 games is cutting costs and throwing in the towel, this move says to run far, far away from Paxton.

[USAFChief]

47 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

The Dodgers top four guys in their rotation are on the IL with only Glasnow coming back any time soon. Paxton has lost 2 MPH off of his fastball and the ability to miss bats.

Unless a Dodgers team that's on pace to win 97 games is cutting costs and throwing in the towel, this move says to run far, far away from Paxton.

Reports have Kershaw coming back also.

[Fatbat]

45 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

The Dodgers top four guys in their rotation are on the IL with only Glasnow coming back any time soon. Paxton has lost 2 MPH off of his fastball and the ability to miss bats.

Unless a Dodgers team that's on pace to win 97 games is cutting costs and throwing in the towel, this move says to run far, far away from Paxton.

They just got Joe Kelly back, activated a River Ryan. They have Grove, Grateral and Kershaw currently on rehab assignments. They obviously are trying to keep the best pitchers on the team. Im not sure Paxton is someone to over look. He may be an upgrade depth piece that is cost effective for the cheap ownership family. 

[KirbyDome89]

Paxton would be this year's version of Dallas Keuchel; high traffic on the bases and no ability to generate outs himself. 

The trade deadline is one week from today, be proactive if you're serious about trying to upgrade your starting pitching.