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The last week in MLB was about a team in the American League acquiring a young starting pitcher; a third baseman decides to announce their retirement and a reliever in the National League signs an extension.
New York Yankees Acquire Pitcher James Paxton from Seattle Mariners
The New York Yankees engineered a trade earlier last week to improve their club by acquiring Seattle Mariners left-handed starting pitcher James Paxton, per Corey Brock of The Athletic.
Paxton deal to Yankees is for Sheffield, OF Don Thompson-Williams and RHP Erik Swanson.
— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) November 19, 2018
The Yankees will send left-hander pitcher Justus Sheffield, right-handed pitcher Erik Swanson and outfielder Don Thompson-Williams to the Mariners.
The major piece in this deal is Sheffield as he’s one of the better prospects in the Yankees farms system.
Sheffield was solid across two minor league levels in 2018, by compiling a 2.48 ERA in 25 games (20 starts). He tossed 116 innings, striking out 123 batters, issuing 50 walks and yielding just four home runs.
The left-hander will be under team control for several years, as he won’t be arbitration eligible until 2022 and won’t become a free agent until 2025.
This was a move a that was painful for the Mariners to make but it had to be done. The team was unlikely to re-sign Paxton when he becomes a free agent and the value for Paxton will probably never be this high.
The Yankees addressed a major need with the acquisition of Paxton, which was improving their starting rotation.
Paxton was stellar for the Mariners last season, by posting a 3.76 ERA in 160 1/3 innings (28 starts) with 208 strikeouts, 42 walks allowed, 23 home runs surrendered, a 108 ERA+, a 3.23 FIP and a 1.09 WHIP.
Paxton is a solid pitcher with the potential to be an ace. He tossed a no-hitter on May 8, 2018, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
He also won’t cost the Yankees much in salary as he’s projected to make about $9 million in arbitration. He’s under team control for two seasons and will be a free agent in 2021.
The only concern with Paxton is that he’s spent time on the disabled list in previous seasons, but he’s worth the risk.
The Yankees still want to add another starting pitcher through free agency as Paxton is only the beginning of what will be a very busy offseason for them.
Adrian Beltre Announces Retirement After 21-Year MLB Career
Third baseman Adrian Beltre has decided to announce his retirement after a 21-year career. The Texas Rangers provided a statement which was released by Beltre:
#ThankYouAB pic.twitter.com/wZO9K18yVJ
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 20, 2018
Beltre started his career in 1998 and played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Rangers.
For being a force at the plate. #ThankYouAB pic.twitter.com/F5Ou1a4SY5
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 20, 2018
The third baseman had a very impressive career, by accumulating a .286 batting average and .819 OPS with 3,166 hits, 1,524 runs scored, 636 doubles, 477 home runs, and 1,707 RBIs.
Beltre had four All-Star appearances, five Gold Gloves, and four Silver Sluggers. He was solid at the plate and fielded his position extremely well.
He is also the only player since 1933 to hit for the cycle three times, per MLB Stats.
Adrián Beltré is the only player since 1933 to hit for the cycle 3 times.#ThankYouAB pic.twitter.com/eef6efb6x5
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) November 20, 2018
There were five years in which he tallied more than 100 RBIs and another 12 seasons with 20 or more homers, including his phenomenal 2004 season with the Dodgers when he posted a .334 average and 1.017 OPS with 48 home runs and 121 RBIs.
He finished second in the MVP voting that season to San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds.
Beltre played only 119 games last year with the Rangers due to injury, but still had a .273 average with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Beltre has a resume built for Cooperstown and will be remembered as one of the better overall third basemen in the history of the sport.
Adrián Beltré retires as one of the best to ever man the hot corner. pic.twitter.com/c8E8tUeU2s
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) November 20, 2018
Cincinnati Reds Sign Closer Raisel Iglesias to Three-Year Deal
The Cincinnati Reds signed closer Raisel Iglesias to a three-year deal last week. The contract is worth $24.1 million, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Raisel Iglesias’ new three-year deal with the Reds is worth $24,125,000 according to a source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 21, 2018
Iglesias was stellar in the Reds’ bullpen last year as he posted a 2.38 ERA in 72 innings (66 games) with 30 saves, 80 strikeouts, 25 walks issued and a 1.06 WHIP.
He has been one of the few bright spots for the Reds over that past couple of seasons.
It was a smart move by the club to sign the right-hander to this type of deal as it’s very team friendly and it solidifies the back-end part of the bullpen.
Author Profile
- Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.
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