The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation has been in flux recently due to injuries and poor production, but things are starting to look up for them.
Tyler Glasnow is set to return on Wednesday and Clayton Kershaw will make his season debut the following day. Over the last few weeks, the Dodgers have relied on Gavin Stone, James Paxton, Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski to make starts for them.
The group has not posted ideal results, but there have been flashes from the young three pitchers. As for Paxton, the 2024 season has been an inconsistent one.
With Paxton’s struggles, coupled with the Dodgers rotation starting to get back to full strength, they have decided to designate Paxton for assignment, according to Robert Murray of FanSided:
Sources: James Paxton is being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 22, 2024
Paxton made 18 starts for the Dodgers this season, posting a 4.43 ERA, 4.97 FIP and 1.46 WHIP while striking out just 16.4% of hitters and walking 12.3%.
His strikeout rate has declined significantly from his career marks, and his walk rate has almost doubled, making each time out a struggle for Paxton.
Still, he has been able to keep the Dodgers in games more often than not, posting an 8-2 record.
“Yeah, I came into the season thinking that the velocity would come, but it hasn’t really come as much as I thought it would,” Paxton said last week. “So I think I’m just evolving as a pitcher, my stuff isn’t what it used to be, but I’m pitching differently, pitching to weak contact and still trying to give us a chance to win.”
With Paxton being DFA’d, he is now removed from the Dodgers 40-man roster. They have seven days to either trade him, place him on outright waivers or release him.
If he’s claimed by another team, he is added to their 40-man roster and will need to be activated.
In the unexpected case he clears waivers, he can be assigned to the Minor Leagues, but players with more than five years of service time can reject that assignment and become a free agent.
A trade seems to be the most likely outcome with so many teams in need of starting pitching.
James Paxton opens DFA opens room for River Ryan
The Dodgers now have the necessary roster space on both the 26- and 40-man rosters to add top prospect River Ryan. The right-hander is expected to make his MLB debut on Monday night against the Giants.
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