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The Seattle Mariners have signed James Paxton, taking the star pitcher off of the free agency market. Paxton is signing a one-year contract worth $8.5 million with bonuses that could take it to $10 million, according to Jeff Passan.
Paxton had a limited 2020 season, even given the shortened nature of the year. He made five starts for the New York Yankees, with his last coming on August 20th before a flexor strain shut him down. He threw 20.1 innings and finished the year 1-1 with a 6.64 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts.
The signing marks a return for Paxton. The Mariners drafted him in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. He spent his first six major league seasons with the club before they traded him to the Yankees in November 2018. He spent the past two years with the Yankees, which included his final year of salary arbitration in 2020.