Phillies Hot Stove: ‘Boys’ Klentak, Mariners GM Discussing James Paxton Trade?

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Philadelphia Phillies Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak, and Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Dipoto, have a deep history which could benefit both clubs this offseason.

Dipoto hired Klentak as his assistant general manager with the Los Angeles Angels prior to the 2012 season, and worked together through July until Dipoto resigned. When the Phillies hired Klentak in November 2015, Dipoto called him a "wonderfully nice guy" who is "extremely intelligent, knows "baseball rules inside and out," and is a "ferocious negotiator."

Dipoto may get a first-hand experience from his former pupil, three offseasons later, surrounding a trade of Mariners southpaw ace James Paxton.

NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury joined SportsRadio 94 WIP's Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger on Saturday, and hinted that among the Phillies' desired acquisitions, the club would like to add a left-handed starter.

"The Phillies have [had] only three starts by a lefty the last two-plus seasons. [All] of those were by Ranger Suarez who came up from Triple-A for spot-starts," Salisbury said. "Having seen what the Dodgers did on the Braves with balance of left-handers in their rotation in the playoffs, I think that opened a lot of folks' eyes."

Salisbury said the Phillies will not compromise themselves, in that if if they have a better right-hander, they would rather go with the better right-hander. Yet, the club "would like" to balance its rotation by adding a southpaw.

Along with the rumored lefty interests of Dallas Keuchel, Robbie Ray, J.A. Happ, and others, the club could also look at the Mariners' Paxton. Seattle is reportedly considering "a full-fledged teardown" this offseason, and could be willing to deal "just about anyone," according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.

Trading Paxton would surely be part of the teardown. Through six big-league seasons, Paxton, 30, has gone 41-26 with a 3.42 ERA, 617 strikeouts in 582 1/3 innings, and a 1.187 WHIP. The Ladner, Canada, native tossed a big-league best two complete games and one shutout in 2018.

While the Mariners will tear down, the Phillies will do just the opposite. When asked what move the club might finish first, Salisbury said he does not think it would be signing "big-ticket free agents" — such as Manny Machado and/or Bryce Harper — but rather, acquiring a lefty.

"I'd watch James Paxton out of Seattle, just because the Phillies GM Matt Klentak, and the Mariners GM Jerry DiPoto are 'boys,'" Salisbury said.

"They've worked together in Anaheim, and I could see them getting something done."

The annual winter meetings will take place Dec. 9-13, in Las Vegas.