James Paxton has spent five-plus seasons with the Seattle Mariners, with a career E.R.A. of 3.42. Ben Margot/Associated Press
The two shiny ornaments on the free-agent market this winter, the sluggers Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, have thus far not distracted Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman from his team’s most pressing need: starting pitching.
Cashman on Monday night took a big step toward fortifying his rotation, acquiring the left-hander James Paxton from the Seattle Mariners for a package of three minor leaguers that included a left-hander who was widely regarded as the Yankees’ top prospect, Justus Sheffield.