Paxton eager to compete for next year's rotation

SEATTLE -- Mariners rookie left-hander James Paxton said he's fine physically and was eager to make one last start on Sunday but totally understands the club's decision to shut him down early and let Erasmo Ramirez pitch the season finale against the A's.

"It's just one of those things. They decided I had enough innings this year and they just wanted me to go into the offseason feeling good and getting ready for next season," said Paxton, who went 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts as a September callup.

The 24-year-old threw 24 innings in his four starts, along with 145 2/3 innings in 28 games for Triple-A Tacoma, putting him one out shy of his preseason goal of throwing 170 frames.

"I feel pretty good about what I've done so far and am looking forward to working hard this offseason and coming into Spring Training being ready to fight for a job," said Paxton, who is ranked as the club's sixth-best prospect.

Ramirez, 5-2 with a 4.56 ERA in 13 games, was pulled after six-plus innings in his last outing in Anaheim on Sept. 20 after feeling tightness in his right groin muscle, but he feels fine and is ready to close out the season with one more start after missing the first three months with an elbow issue.