Last month, the Los Angeles Dodgers made significant moves to strengthen their starting rotation for the upcoming season. After signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto for an impressive $325 million and trading for Tyler Glasnow, they added another valuable asset in James Paxton. However, as is often the case, there was a significant caveat to the deal—a pending physical examination.
James Paxton, a seasoned 35-year-old pitcher entering his 11th major league season, missed the entirety of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery. In 2023, he played with the Boston Red Sox, finishing with a 7-5 record and a 4.50 ERA. While these numbers are relatively average, Paxton proved himself to be a reliable starter by making 19 appearances that year.
