Report: Canadian James Paxton on Blue Jays' radar for starting pitching

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres, right, is met by teammate Luke Voit after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning of their American League MLB baseball game in Toronto on Saturday, September 14, 2019. (Fred Thornhill / CP)

After making a big splash to improve their outfield with the blockbuster signing of George Springer, the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be looking to beef up their starting pitching — potentially with the addition of a Canadian.

Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the club has free-agent lefty James Paxton on its radar.

The six-foot-four, 227-pound product of Ladner, B.C., struggled through injuries in 2020 -- his second season with the New York Yankees after being acquired in a 2018 trade with the Seattle Mariners. The 32-year-old went 1-1 in five games with a 6.64 ERA.

This was a marked departure from his first season in the Bronx when he racked up a 15-6 record with a 3.82 ERA and 186 strikeouts across 150.2 innings.

The year prior, Paxton made history by throwing a no-hitter against the Blue Jays, becoming the first Canadian to complete the feat on home soil and the just second to toss a no-no, joining Dick Fowler of the Philadelphia Athletics.

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