TAMPA, Fla. _ James Paxton was a significant part of the Mariners' "everyone must go" offseason, and he had nothing bad to say about the organization he came up with. But the left-hander used the word "excited" multiple times in describing his thoughts on joining a team whose 2019 goals and expectations could not be more different than Seattle's.
"I feel like playing with the Yankees you're expected to win," Paxton said Thursday after a workout at their minor-league complex, where he's been a frequent presence. "It's kind of World Series or bust for Yankees fans, and I'm excited about having that pressure and just being on a team so committed to winning."
The Yankees acquired Paxton Nov. 19 in exchange for left-hander Justus Sheffield, one of their top pitching prospects, right-handed prospect Erik Swanson and minor-league outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams. Paxton, 30, was 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 starts last season, when he threw a no-hitter May 8 at Toronto. He struck out 208 in 160 1/3 innings, posting eight starts with at least 10 strikeouts, tied for sixth in MLB.
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