Might this be the year that Big Maple heads to Canada?

This is a free agent profile, where we take a look at the players on the open market this winter and whether or not they would be fits for the Blue Jays. In this article, we’re going to take a look at James Paxton, who&#8217;s back on the open market after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
James Paxton Expects To Be Better Next Year <a href="https://t.co/bW9xedzrH1">https://t.co/bW9xedzrH1</a>
&mdash; FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) <a href="https://twitter.com/fangraphs/status/1727009165162246516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>James Paxton’s 2023:</h2>
Paxton tossed 96 innings for the Red Sox in 2023 after being limited to just six big-league appearances between 2020 and 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2021 and signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox for 2022 and 2023 with the expectation he would be ready at some point during the latter season. 
The 34-year-old left-handed pitcher to game action with the Red Sox in May and 96 posted a 4.50 ERA and a 4.68 FIP along with a 24.6 K% and an 8 BB% across 19 starts. His best start came when he shut the Blue Jays out over seven-and-two-thirds innings on the day before Canada Day. 
For his career, the Richmond, British Columbia native has a 3.69 ERA and a  3.46 FIP in 850 innings pitched, along with a 26.3 K% and a 7.5 BB%. Paxton’s best season came in 2017, when he posted a 2.98 ERA and a 2.61 FIP in 136 innings pitched while with the Seattle Mariner. A season later, Paxton threw a no-hitter on May 8, 2018 on his home soil against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
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<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="James Paxton completes his no-hitter in the 9th" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pT2QQTvO-uQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<h2>James Paxton’s contract:</h2>
<a href="https://theathletic.com/5008102/2023/10/31/mlb-free-agents-2023-contract-team-predictions/">According to Jim Bowden’s contract predictions article from The Athletic</a>, Paxton ranks as his 39th-best free agent out of 40. Bowden predicts that Paxton will make a one-year, $8 million deal with performance incentives because of his injury background. <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/2023-24-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions.html">MLB Trade Rumours</a>, meanwhile, doesn&#8217;t have Paxton listed as one of their top 50 free agents. 
Paxton signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Mariners in free agency ahead of the 2022 season, and his two-year Tommy John recovery contract with the Red Sox was worth $10 million in total, broken down into $6 and $4 million seasons.
The last time Paxton was on the open market, <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1352650935454093312">the Blue Jays showed interest</a> but he wound up taking the aforementioned contract in Boston. 
<h2>Is James Paxton a fit for the Blue Jays:</h2>
The Blue Jays selected Paxton in the first round of the 2009 draft out of the University of Kentucky but he didn&#8217;t sign with the club. After a year of playing independent ball in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Paxton was drafted by the Mariners.
Toronto will have some competition for the fifth starter’s spot in the rotation. Alek Manoah appears to be leading the pack, but Mitch White was just recently added back to the 40-man roster, and Bowden Francis pitched incredibly well in 2023, so the Blue Jays have internal options.
That being said, any back-end starter who signs with the Jays must know that a spot on the roster isn’t guaranteed. If this were a year sooner, I’m sure Paxton would be under consideration and also considering a contract to return to Canada, but it may make little sense for both parties unless Manoah is traded.
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
<hr />
<h2>Previously…</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-shohei-ohtani-is-this-winters-top-free-agent-despite-off-season-elbow-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Shohei Ohtani is this winter’s top free agent despite off-season elbow surgery</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-pursued-cody-bellinger-last-winter-and-likely-will-again-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays pursued Cody Bellinger last winter and likely will again this year</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yoshinobu-yamamoto-finished-his-npb-career-with-one-of-the-best-starts-in-japan-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished his NPB career with one of the best starts in Japan Series history</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-two-time-all-star-tim-anderson-is-on-the-open-market-after-the-white-sox-declined-his-option" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Two-time All-Star Tim Anderson is on the open market after the White Sox declined his option</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-teoscar-hernandez-said-before-the-trade-deadline-that-hed-be-open-to-a-return-to-the-blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Teoscar Hernández said before the trade deadline that he’d be open to a return to the Blue Jays</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-lourdes-gurriel-jr-is-on-the-open-market-following-his-first-all-star-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the open market following his first All-Star season</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-are-apparently-interested-in-outfielder-michael-a-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays are apparently interested in outfielder Michael A. Taylor</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-a-joey-votto-homecoming-is-a-possibility-this-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: A Joey Votto homecoming is a possibility this winter</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-bryce-harper-moving-to-first-base-means-rhys-hoskins-time-with-the-phillies-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Bryce Harper moving to first base means Rhys Hoskins’ time with the Phillies is over</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-jeimer-candelario-is-among-the-blue-jays-replacement-options-if-matt-chapman-doesnt-re-sign" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Jeimer Candelario is among the Blue Jays’ replacement options if Matt Chapman doesn’t re-sign</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-j-d-martinez-is-back-on-the-market-after-a-rebound-year-with-the-dodgers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger J.D. Martinez is back on the market after a rebound year with the Dodgers</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-another-slugger-is-on-the-market-as-the-brewers-non-tendered-rowdy-tellez" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Another slugger is on the market as the Brewers non-tendered Rowdy Tellez</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-blake-snell-is-just-the-seventh-pitcher-to-win-a-cy-young-in-both-leagues" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Blake Snell is just the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young in both leagues</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-former-gold-glove-winner-harrison-bader-is-a-defence-first-option-for-the-outfield">Free Agent Profile: Former Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader is a defence-first option for the outfield</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yokohama-baystars-expected-to-post-shota-imanaga-by-monday">Free Agent Profile: Yokohama BayStars expected to post Shota Imanaga by Monday</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-justin-turner-declined-his-player-option-after-a-successful-season-with-the-red-sox">Free Agent Profile: Justin Turner declined his player option after a successful season with the Red Sox</a></li>
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<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
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Might this be the year that Big Maple heads to Canada?



This is a free agent profile, where we take a look at the players on the open market this winter and whether or not they would be fits for the Blue Jays. In this article, we’re going to take a look at James Paxton, who's back on the open market after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

https://twitter.com/fangraphs/status/1727009165162246516
<h2>James Paxton’s 2023:</h2>
Paxton tossed 96 innings for the Red Sox in 2023 after being limited to just six big-league appearances between 2020 and 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2021 and signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox for 2022 and 2023 with the expectation he would be ready at some point during the latter season. 

The 34-year-old left-handed pitcher to game action with the Red Sox in May and 96 posted a 4.50 ERA and a 4.68 FIP along with a 24.6 K% and an 8 BB% across 19 starts. His best start came when he shut the Blue Jays out over seven-and-two-thirds innings on the day before Canada Day. 

For his career, the Richmond, British Columbia native has a 3.69 ERA and a  3.46 FIP in 850 innings pitched, along with a 26.3 K% and a 7.5 BB%. Paxton’s best season came in 2017, when he posted a 2.98 ERA and a 2.61 FIP in 136 innings pitched while with the Seattle Mariner. A season later, Paxton threw a no-hitter on May 8, 2018 on his home soil against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT2QQTvO-uQ

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<h2>James Paxton’s contract:</h2>
<a href="https://theathletic.com/5008102/2023/10/31/mlb-free-agents-2023-contract-team-predictions/">According to Jim Bowden’s contract predictions article from The Athletic</a>, Paxton ranks as his 39th-best free agent out of 40. Bowden predicts that Paxton will make a one-year, $8 million deal with performance incentives because of his injury background. <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/2023-24-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions.html">MLB Trade Rumours</a>, meanwhile, doesn't have Paxton listed as one of their top 50 free agents. 

Paxton signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Mariners in free agency ahead of the 2022 season, and his two-year Tommy John recovery contract with the Red Sox was worth $10 million in total, broken down into $6 and $4 million seasons.

The last time Paxton was on the open market, <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1352650935454093312">the Blue Jays showed interest</a> but he wound up taking the aforementioned contract in Boston. 
<h2>Is James Paxton a fit for the Blue Jays:</h2>
The Blue Jays selected Paxton in the first round of the 2009 draft out of the University of Kentucky but he didn't sign with the club. After a year of playing independent ball in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Paxton was drafted by the Mariners.

Toronto will have some competition for the fifth starter’s spot in the rotation. Alek Manoah appears to be leading the pack, but Mitch White was just recently added back to the 40-man roster, and Bowden Francis pitched incredibly well in 2023, so the Blue Jays have internal options.

That being said, any back-end starter who signs with the Jays must know that a spot on the roster isn’t guaranteed. If this were a year sooner, I’m sure Paxton would be under consideration and also considering a contract to return to Canada, but it may make little sense for both parties unless Manoah is traded.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

<hr />

<h2>Previously…</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-shohei-ohtani-is-this-winters-top-free-agent-despite-off-season-elbow-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Shohei Ohtani is this winter’s top free agent despite off-season elbow surgery</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-pursued-cody-bellinger-last-winter-and-likely-will-again-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays pursued Cody Bellinger last winter and likely will again this year</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yoshinobu-yamamoto-finished-his-npb-career-with-one-of-the-best-starts-in-japan-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished his NPB career with one of the best starts in Japan Series history</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-two-time-all-star-tim-anderson-is-on-the-open-market-after-the-white-sox-declined-his-option" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Two-time All-Star Tim Anderson is on the open market after the White Sox declined his option</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-teoscar-hernandez-said-before-the-trade-deadline-that-hed-be-open-to-a-return-to-the-blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Teoscar Hernández said before the trade deadline that he’d be open to a return to the Blue Jays</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-lourdes-gurriel-jr-is-on-the-open-market-following-his-first-all-star-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the open market following his first All-Star season</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-are-apparently-interested-in-outfielder-michael-a-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays are apparently interested in outfielder Michael A. Taylor</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-a-joey-votto-homecoming-is-a-possibility-this-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: A Joey Votto homecoming is a possibility this winter</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-bryce-harper-moving-to-first-base-means-rhys-hoskins-time-with-the-phillies-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Bryce Harper moving to first base means Rhys Hoskins’ time with the Phillies is over</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-jeimer-candelario-is-among-the-blue-jays-replacement-options-if-matt-chapman-doesnt-re-sign" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Jeimer Candelario is among the Blue Jays’ replacement options if Matt Chapman doesn’t re-sign</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-j-d-martinez-is-back-on-the-market-after-a-rebound-year-with-the-dodgers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger J.D. Martinez is back on the market after a rebound year with the Dodgers</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-another-slugger-is-on-the-market-as-the-brewers-non-tendered-rowdy-tellez" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Another slugger is on the market as the Brewers non-tendered Rowdy Tellez</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-blake-snell-is-just-the-seventh-pitcher-to-win-a-cy-young-in-both-leagues" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Blake Snell is just the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young in both leagues</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-former-gold-glove-winner-harrison-bader-is-a-defence-first-option-for-the-outfield">Free Agent Profile: Former Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader is a defence-first option for the outfield</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yokohama-baystars-expected-to-post-shota-imanaga-by-monday">Free Agent Profile: Yokohama BayStars expected to post Shota Imanaga by Monday</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-justin-turner-declined-his-player-option-after-a-successful-season-with-the-red-sox">Free Agent Profile: Justin Turner declined his player option after a successful season with the Red Sox</a></li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
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