Starting pitcher James Paxton was part of the earliest Phillies rumors entering the offseason, but after he was shipped to the Yankees for three prospects, Philadelphia is left searching for another controllable starter.
Paxton’s name was first linked to the Phillies in a report from NBCS Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury, which also named Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray.
The 27-year-old made his lone All-Star appearance in 2017 when he finished seventh in the Cy Young, but his ERA inflated by more than a run in 2018.
The Diamondbacks were among the worst in baseball for runs averaged per game, and Ray received fewer than three runs of support per start according to Fox Sports.