Another one bites the dust…

Chad Dey of Sportsnet 650 was the first to report that free agent left-hander James Paxton and the Seattle Mariners had agreed to terms on a one-year contract.

Sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that the deal is for $8.5 million and includes reachable bonuses that could take its value up to $10 million.

Paxton was initially drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB Draft and spent six seasons on the Mariners’ major league roster. He recorded a 3.42 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 1.187 WHIP and a 9.5 K/9 as a Mariner.

After being traded to the New York Yankees, Paxton had a solid season in 2019, producing a 3.82 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 3.86 FIP and 3.5 fWAR in 29 starts.

However his 2020 season was cut short due to forearm soreness and he made only made five starts, posting a career-worst 6.64 ERA and 4.47 FIP.

Paxton follows in the footsteps of free agent right-hander Trevor Bauer, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers a week ago.

Both Paxton and Bauer were reportedly being courted by the New York Mets, who are still trying to bolster their starting rotation which already includes Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Carlos Carrasco.

If the Mets are still looking towards free agency to fill their void, right-handers Taijuan Walker and Jake Odorizzi are both still available and the top remaining options for the Amazins.

Let’s take a look at both of them.

Odorizzi, 31, battled injuries last season and made just four starts, allowing 10 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings.

It was a far cry from his stellar 2019 season, but there’s a good chance Odorizzi can have a bounce-back season in 2021.

The former first-rounder posted career-highs in FIP (3.36), ERA- (75), K/9 (10.4), and fWAR (4.3) in 2019.

In 30 starts, Odorizzi posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a .289 wOBA in 160 innings. He’d probably slot in behind Stroman and make a very effective mid-rotation starter for the Mets.

Despite missing most of last year due to a blister, a chest contusion, and a right intercostal strain, Odorizzi has been very durable throughout his career, averaging 28 starts per season.

Righty Taijuan Walker started 11 games for the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays last season, after returning from 2018 Tommy John surgery.

Walker, 28, is someone I really like and with good reason. He recorded a very strong season in 2020, posting a 2.70 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.56 FIP and a 2.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Walker really turned it on after he was traded to the Bue Jays where he pitched to a 1.37 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB over 26 1/3 innings.

Part of Walker’s success last season, can be attributed to a change in his approach that saw him rely a lot less on his four-seam fastball than in any other season.

After throwing his fastball approximately 60 percent of the time in his career, he threw the pitch less than 40 percent of the time in 2020.

Walker started throwing a lot more sliders and he was especially effective against right-handed batters whim held to a .178/.252/.263 batting line.

The Louisiana native could slot in as the No. 3 or 4 starter for the Mets, and given his age and strong finish, he likely gets a multi-year deal. There’s potential for a very solid season in 2021 and if I’m Sandy Alderson I’d be very interested in bringing Walker to Flushing.