James Paxton has the stuff to pitch Game 1 of a playoff series. The Yankees are willing to overlook almost everything else because of that. His questionable durability. His superior numbers working in pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. The unknown of him pitching in a big market. And having to give up one of the majors’ better pitching prospects.
The Yankees are at that place in their cycle — close to a George Steinbrenner championship-or-bust mentality — that going for it fuels their willingness to incur greater risk. So, they traded the player MLB.com had ranked as the Yankees’ top prospect and No.