Dodgers Bolster Starting Rotation With Addition of James Paxton, per Report

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not hit the brakes when it comes to their offseason spending, as the team is reportedly in talks to further fortify their starting rotation.

The Dodgers are set to sign veteran left-handed pitcher James Paxton to a one-year contract, according to multiple reports.

Paxton will earn around $12 million in Los Angeles, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, as he becomes the latest in a slew of offseason signings for the organization.

The 35-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. Paxton appeared in just six games from 2020—22. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and had his season ended early in ‘22 when he suffered a tear in his lat.

Last year with the Boston Red Sox, Paxton made 19 starts, his most in a season since 2019, and registered a 4.50 ERA with 101 strikeouts across 96 innings. 

He joins a Dodgers starting rotation that figures to consist of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller, with Shohei Ohtani expected to return to the mound in 2025. 

The addition of Paxton and his reported $12 million pact would see Los Angeles overtake the New York Mets as the team with the highest payroll in terms of CBT, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman. 

Paxton has made 156 starts across a 10-year MLB career, during which he’s pitched for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Red Sox.