Dodgers reduce guaranteed money on new pitcher's contract due to health concern

The Los Angeles Dodgers are pulling a little bit of money off the table for one of their new players.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported Wednesday that the Dodgers are lowering the guaranteed money on the contract of veteran lefty James Paxton, who just signed a one-year deal with them this winter. This is reportedly because of an unspecified health concern.

Ardaya does add, though, that the issue is not believed to be serious and that Paxton’s deal can still max out at $13 million (with performance and roster bonuses). However, the restructuring of the deal does cause his guaranteed money for the time being to drop from the original figure of $11 million down to $7 million.

Paxton, 35, joined the Dodgers earlier this month after spending last year with the Boston Red Sox (going 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA over 19 starts). While Ardaya did not get into the specifics of Paxton’s health concern, his 2023 season came to an early end in September due to right knee inflammation. Paxton also has a Tommy John surgery in his recent past (in 2021 when he was a member of the Seattle Mariners).

This is all just a drop in the bucket for the Dodgers, who have spent well over a billion dollars in free agency this winter. But on Paxton’s end, he will now have to prove his health in order to realize the full value of his new contract with the Dodgers.