Yanks trade Sheffield and two other prospects to Seattle for James Paxton

The Yanks wanted to add two starting pitchers this offseason (and subtract one, in Sonny Gray) besides re-signing CC Sabathia.

Step one has been accomplished. The Yanks traded top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield, along with P Erik Swanson and OF Dom Thompson-Williams, to Seattle for lefty starter James Paxton.

Paxton, 30, is a Canadian who threw a no-hitter against Toronto last May. While talented, he has had trouble staying healthy. In 2018, he started 28 games, the most of his career, and pitched 160 1/3 innings, also the most of his career, in going 11-6, 3.76, ERA+ 108. In those 160 1/3 innings, he struck out 208.

In the past five seasons, he has started 13-13-20-24-28 games. A progression, but you can see the injury issues. His IP have been 74-67-121-136 and 160.3. When healthy, he has been good, ERAs of 3.04, 3.90, 3.79, 2.98 and 3.76.

Last season, he led the majors in CG (2) and shutouts (1). His MLB record is 41-26, 3.42, ERA+ 117. The ERAs show potential. He needs to stay healthy. His 162 g. average, if healthy, is 14-9, 3.42, with that ERA+ of 117. In four starts against Boston, he is 2-0, 2.49.

Paxton is extremely affordable, having made $4.9MM in 2018 and is projected to earn $9MM in 2019. He isn’t a free agent until after 2020.

To get him, the Yanks gave up top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield, LHP, 22, who in a brief MLB tryout last year was 0-0, 10.13 in three games. He spent most of 2018 at AAA SWB, starting 15 games and relieving in 5 more, going 6-4. 2.56. He also started 5 games for AA Trenton, going 1-2, 2.25. (7-6, 2.48 overall in the minors). He probably would have started 2019 at AAA, and being “on call” in case of an injury.

Also going to Seattle was P Erik Swanson, who is 25, a RHP,  who was 8-2, 2.66 between AAA SWB, AA Trenton and short season Staten Island in 2018. 22 starts, 2 relief appearances.

OF Dom Thompson-Williams is also headed to Seattle. A lefty hitter, 23, he spent 2018 between Low A Charleston and High A Tampa, going .299-22-74 in 100 games, with 20 SB.

Step one is getting Paxton. Step two is getting another starter, even BETTER than Paxton. Patrick Corbin? Bring back Happ? Dallas Keuchel?

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Minor League Report. SWB one-hits LV, up 2 games to 0. Trenton down 0-2.

AAA: SWB beat LV 3-0 on a one-hitter to take a 2 games to none lead in the best-of-five divisional round. Lehigh Valley’s only hit came with one out in the eighth inning.

LF Mark Payton 3 hits. C Wilkin Castillo solo HR.

Cortes 8 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 7 K.
Adams (S) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.

AA: Trenton lost to New Hampshire 10-4 and are down 2 games to none in their best-of-five divisional series. 2B Gosuke Katoh solo HR. SS Kyle Holder 2 hits. RF Dom Thompson-Williams 2-run HR. DH Jorge Saez 2 hits.

N. Green (L) 1 2/3 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Diehl 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Foley 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Hodson 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.
Kamplain 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.

 

Minor League Report. SWB continues bid for playoffs.

AAA: SWB (71-64) won 3-1.  C Francisco Diaz 2 hits, RBI. SWB has a 1/2 game lead for the WC spot. Only 3 more games are scheduled before the playoffs start next Wednesday.

Swanson (W, 3-2, 3.86) 6 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Espinal (H, 4) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 k.  3.12
J. Harvey (S, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  1.70

AA: Trenton (76-61) won 3-2. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot. I don’t know if there was an injury with Nelson, or just ineffectiveness.

Nelson 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K.  5.19   2 WP
Foley (W, 4-4, 2.98) 4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 5 K
Diehl (H, 4) 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.  1.35
Wivinis (S, 4) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  5.40

Tampa and Charlestown, listed below, will not be in the playoffs.

High A: Tampa (69-66) won 19-2 in a game that was started on August 12th and completed yesterday. The regularly scheduled game was rained out.  DH Estevan Florial 4 hits. LF Clint Frazier 2 RBI. CF Dom Thompson-Williams 2 Hits, HR, 3 RBI.  RF Isiah Gilliam 3 hits. LF-2B-LF Ben Ruta 4 hits. 1B Steven Sensley 3 hits, HR, 5 RBI. 2b/SS Angel Aguilar 2 HR, 5 RBI. C Chace Numata 3 hits, HR, 2 RBI. Tampa had 19 runs, 22 hits, and hit 5 HR.

Deivi Garcia 0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  0.77
R. Garcia (W, 1-3, 3.34) 7 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR.
A. Severino 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.  0.00

Low A: Charleston (62-71) scored two in the bottom of the 10th to win 4-3. SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits. DH Welfrin Mateo 2 hits. CF Leonardo Molina 2 hits, RBI.

Contreras 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 W, 6 K.  3.38
Kriske (BS, 1) 2 Ip, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K.  4.50
C. Espinal (W, 1-2, 2.51) 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Juan DePaula was the second minor leaguer going to SF in the McCutchen deal. He was a pitcher for short-season Staten Island.

 

 

Minor League Report. German and Sanchez on rehab.

AAA: SWB (67-62) lost to LV 2-1, giving up a run in the bottom of the 9th. RF Zack Zehner 2 hits.

Swanson 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K.   4.09
Sheffield (BS, 2) 2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up HR.  2.66
Kontos (L, 3-2, 2.01) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 0 K.

AA: Trenton (71-60) won 7-6. 1B Bruce Caldwell 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2B Brandon Wagner drew 4 walks. LF Trey Amburgey 3 hits, HR, 4 RBI. DH Jeff Hendrix 2 hits.

Bollinger (W, 8-5, 4.00) 5 Ip, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 6 K.
Lane 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 4 K.  4.42
Harris 1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K.  5.79
Frawley (S, 1) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR.  7.13

High A: Tampa (65-66) won 5-4 in 10 innings. LF Dom Thompson-Williams 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI. 3B Angel Aguilar 2 hits, RBI.

German 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 5 K. 0.00  Rehab stint.
Kamplain 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 6 K.  4.38
Ort 1 1/3 IP, 4 R,  3 ER, 3 H, 2 W, 1 K.  6.64
Zurak (W, 3-2, 4.60) 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.

Low A: Charleston (59-68) lost 4-3 in 10 innings. RF Carlos Vidal 3 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBI. SS Wilkerman Garcia 2 hits, solo HR. 2B David Metzgar 2 hits.

Contreras 4 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K.  4.08
Ramos 4 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 W, 6 K.  3.70
C. Espinal (L, 0-2, 3.18) 2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K.

Gary Sanchez: Rehab game for Gulf Coast League Yankees East as DH. 0 for 3, walked, scored a run. Reached on error, 2 popups.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (66-61) beat LV 9-1. 3B Gio Urshela 3 hits. 1B Ryan McBroom 2 hits, 2 RBI. DH Mike Ford 2 hits, double, HR, 3 RBI. RF Zack Zehner 2 hits, 2 RBI. SS Rey Navarro 2 hits.

King (W, 3-0, 1.33) 6 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 7 K.  King really coming on. Started yr. at Tampa.
Coshow 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 4 K.  5.30
Sosebee 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.70

KIng, 23, RHP. 3 levels (A+/AA/AAA) in 2018: 10-5, 1.87.

AA: Trenton (70-60) won 4-2. SS Wendell Rijo 2 hits. 3b Danienger Perez 2 hits, RBI.

Keller (W, 10-8, 3.54) 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 1 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR
Diehl (H, 3) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.   1.23
Wivinis (S, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.

HIgh A: Tampa (64-66) lost 8-3. 1B Steven Sensley solo HR. CF Dom Thompson-Williams 2 RBI.

R. Garcia (L, 0-5, 4.83) 4 1/3 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 6 K. gave up 1 HR.
A. Severino 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.  10.80 (1st game A+, just up from Low A).
Weissert 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 3 k. 3.86

Low A: Charleston (59-67) scored in the bottom of the 10th to win 2-1. DH Dermis Garcia 2 hits, RBI. 1B Chris Hess 2 hits.

Mauricio 6 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 5 K.   4.82
Higgins 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.91
Alvarez (W, 2-2,  1.08) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  1.08

Minor League Report

AAA: SWB (66-61) won 7-3. RF Ryan McBroom 2 hits. 1B Mike Ford 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2 hits, RBI for C Wilkin Castillo.

Rosa (W, 2-0, 1.59) 6 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 W, 2 K.
Lail 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 1 K.  5.82
Harvey (S, 7) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K.  1.63

Rosa, 23, started this year at High A Tampa. He’s jumped 2 levels. He is 14-5, 3.71 at three levels this year and someone to watch out for.

AA: Trenton (69-60) lost 8-3. 2B Bruce Caldwell 2 hits, solo HR. LF Trey Amburgey 2 hits.

Nick Green (0-2, 6.10 at AA) 5 1/3 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Frawley 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 k.  6.75
Hodson 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.  8.64

Green started the year at High A.

High A: Tampa (64-65) won 8-2. SS Diego Castillo 2 RBI. DH Dom Thompson -Williams 3 RBI. 3B Angel Aguilar 2 hits. 1B Steven Sensley 3 hits. C Jason Lopez 2 RBI.

Abreu (W, 4-3, 4.16) 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 4 W, 4 K.
Morris (H, 1) 3 Ip, 0 R, 2 H, 0 w, 0 K  6.05
Bristo 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.  1.17

Low A: Charleston (58-67) lost 6-0. They got 3 hits.

Junk (L, 6-5, 3.94) 5 iP, 4 R, 8 H, 2 W, 7 K. gave up 1 hr.
Vargas 4 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR.  3.95

 

 

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB  (65-61) lost a DH

Completion of suspended game from 8/21: Lost 2-1. Got just 3 hits.

Cortes 6 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 1 W, 6 K.  3.28
Sheffield (BS, 1) 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.  2.61
Kontos (L, 3-1, 1.66) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.

Reg. Sched. game: Lost 7-3. RF Ryan McBroom 2 hits. 3B Gio Urshela 2 hits, RBI. LF Zack Zehner 2 hits, 2 RBI.

R. Espinal 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 3.36
Feyereisen (L, 6-6, 3.45) 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 2 W, 2 K.
Tarpley 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K.  2.03
Coshow 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K.  5.29

AA: Trenton (69-59) won 8-7. LF Rashad Crawford 2 hits, Grand Slam HR, 5 RBI. 3B Gosuke Katoh drew 4 walks.

Loaisiga 4 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR  4.15
Foley 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 W, 3 K.  3.34
Wivinis (W, 1-1, 7.15) 2 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 W, 2 K. Gave up HR. \

High A: Tampa (63-65) won 6-3, scoring one in the seventh and eighth and 3 in the ninth for a comeback win. LF Dom Thompson-Williams 3 hits, solo HR. RF Ben Ruta 2 hits. 3B Angel Aguilar 4 for 4, 2 doubles, HR, 2 RBI. 1B Steven Sensley 2 hits, RBI. C Chace Numata 2 hits, RBI.

Lehnen 5 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR.  5.57
Kamplain 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K.  4.60
Zurak (W, 2-2, 5.54) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.

Low A: Charleston off.