Yankees Could Lose Paxton for 3 to 4 Months After Surgery

In an off-season that has been dominated by the nothing but bad news for the team across town in the New York Mets, it has been kinda quiet in the Bronx.

Really, outside of the signing of Gerrit Cole, there hasn't been a lot to talk about in Yankee-land, until now.

James Paxton could miss anywhere between three to four months after undergoing back surgery to remove a peridiscal cyst from his lower back. The initial diagnosis had Paxton not returning to the Yankees rotation until June at the latest, however, a report from MLB Network's Jon Heyman has Paxton coming back as early as late April or early May.

"We're very optimistic that he will be back in the first third of the season," Paxton's agent Scott Boras said.

Paxton is arguably the Yankees second best starter, and might be its most valuable behind Cole, since Paxton is a lefty.

In his first season in Pinstripes, Paxton went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts, including winning 10 of his last 11 starts to close out the season.