Three-Inning Save: James Paxton rounds out the Dodgers rotation

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers signed veteran pitcher James Paxton to a one-year contract to seemingly round out their starting rotation.

Paxton returned from Tommy John surgery to put up a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts for the Red Sox in 2023, though he missed time last year with both a hamstring strain and knee injury, the latter giving a bad ending to an otherwise promising start to his season.

Injuries have always been an issue for the 35-year-old Paxton, who has never qualified for any rate leaderboards and has topped 150 innings only twice in his 11 major league seasons. But he’s usually been very good while on the mound, which could benefit the Dodgers come October.

Also, third baseman Adrián Beltré was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, giving the Dodgers a Cooperstown inductee for a third consecutive year.

Related reading:

• Details of the signing at True Blue LA
• An “unspecified health issue” drops Paxton’s guarantee from $11 million to $7 million, per The Athletic
• How Paxton might need to improve his secondary pitches, from Baseball Prospectus
• Paxton has a chance to help the Dodgers in the postseason, from FanGraphs
• Dodgers bullpen could use another reliever, at True Blue LA
• Non-roster invitees to Dodgers spring training, at True Blue LA
• Adrián Beltré elected to Hall of Fame on the first ballot, at True Blue LA

The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore.

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