Pitcher James Paxton’s contract guarantee will be reduced from $11 million to $7 million as part of a contract review with the Dodgers due to health concerns. According to The Athletic.
After the Dodgers and Paxton agreed to a one-year deal on Monday, the health concerns weren’t enough to call it quits, but they could potentially lose a lot of money.
According to The Athletic, Paxton’s agent Scott Boras and the team declined to explain why the change was made in light of HIPAA.
The revised contract still allows him to earn up to $13 million with incentives, but Paxton’s signing bonus remains at $3 million, his annual salary is reduced from $8 million to $4 million, and he is on the team’s roster. The roster bonus for those players will increase to $2 million. The opening game in South Korea on March 20th, or the opening game in the United States eight days later, According to the Associated Press.
The left-hander will also receive a $1 million bonus if he remains active by April 15th, but he can earn an additional $2 million if he makes the roster by then and starts at least 20 games this season. there is a possibility.
He could also earn up to $4 million in performance bonuses if he starts.
The 35-year-old southpaw is coming off a season with the Red Sox where he had a 7-5 record and a 4.50 ERA last year, but his Boston debut will be postponed until May 12 due to a right hamstring strain. It wasn’t done. spring training.
Paxton was then shelved again in September due to inflammation in his right knee.
This happened after he pitched just 1 1/3 innings in 2021 before needing Tommy John surgery.
He missed all of 2022 with an elbow injury, but suffered a latissimus dorsi tear while rehabbing and missed the entire season.
Paxton has pitched at least 150 innings only twice in his career, the last time being with the Yankees in 2019.
Over seven seasons in the majors, Paxton started 156 games and posted a 64-38 record with a 3.69 ERA.
