Paxton (back) resumed playing catch Wednesday, making approximately 25 throws from 60 feet, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

After reporting no back pain following the session, Paxton will presumably increase his long-toss distance gradually over the next week or so before potentially getting back on a mound. Paxton indicated that if he avoids any setbacks while building up to a starter's workload, he believes he'll be ready to return from the injured list as soon as mid-May in a best-case scenario. Paxton's absence to begin the campaign as well as the season-ending injury to Luis Severino (elbow) has already cleared a spot in the Opening Day rotation for Jordan Montgomery, leaving a slew of other pitchers to compete for the final starting job over the final two weeks of spring training.

Paxton will play catch Wednesday, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton is working his way back from early February back surgery. He'll be resuming throwing just over a month after undergoing the procedure and appears to have a chance to reach his goal of pitching in big-league games by the start of May.

Paxton (back) may be cleared to begin a throwing program Wednesday, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton's recovery from Feb. 5 surgery to remove a peridiscal cyst from his back looks to be coming along quicker than anticipated. Though Paxton was initially handed a 3-to-4-month recovery timeline, the fact that the lefty is on the brink of throwing just over a month into his rehab program offers hope that he could meet his goal of being ready to pitch in games by early May. Paxton will still have multiple checkpoints to clear before he's even deemed ready to make a minor-league rehab start, but his progression to date has been encouraging.

Paxton (back) said Thursday that he's been able to do rotational exercises with a medicine ball, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

The activity represents a small sign of progress for Paxton, who will begin the season on the injured list while he recovers from a February procedure to remove a cyst from his spine. The southpaw is optimistic that he'll be cleared to begin a throwing program over the weekend or early next week, which would put him on pace to return from the IL in late April or early May if he can avoid any setbacks during the buildup period.

Paxton (back) said Sunday he could begin throwing late this week or early next week, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran left-hander has been progressing well in his recovery and previously indicated he might throw early this week, but he's instead looking to hold himself back a bit to avoid rushing things. Paxton underwent back surgery in early February and is hoping to rejoin the Yankees in early May.

Paxton "feels good" thus far about his recovery from back surgery, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports.

EDGE Analysis

News of Paxton's progress comes at a good time for the Yankees following the loss of Luis Severino to season-ending elbow surgery. While Paxton is expected to miss about a month at the start of the regular season, he could begin throwing as early as next week.

Paxton (back) is expected to be able to play catch in about 10 days, Marly Rivera of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Throwing in 10 days would put Paxton near the early end of the 3-to-5-week range he was given in mid-February. The veteran lefty is hoping to return from the injured list by the start of May after recovering from back surgery.

Paxton (back) said Thursday that he expects to resume throwing in 3-to-5 weeks and is hopeful to return from the injured list by May, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

While detailing the procedure he required last week to remove a peridiscal cyst from his back, Paxton revealed that he first experienced pain in his left leg in November before receiving an injection to relieve the discomfort, per James Wagner of The New York Times. After the injection failed to completely eradicate his pain, Paxton underwent more specialized testing in January, when it was determined that he had a cyst that would need to be removed. Following Paxton's surgery last week, doctors told him that he should be ready to resume throwing by the end of spring training, though he'll almost certainly open the season on the IL since he won't have sufficient time to build up to a starter's workload. In a best-case scenario, Paxton would only miss a handful of starts before slotting back into the New York rotation at some point in the second half of April, though fantasy managers should probably plan on his absence extending into May, if not June.

Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy to remove a peridiscal cyst Wednesday and will miss three-to-four months.

EDGE Analysis

The back procedure will prevent Paxton from making his season debut until sometime in May or June. Injuries are unfortunately nothing new for the lefty, who has never made 30 starts in his seven-year big-league career. The injury opens up a temporary spot in the Yankees' rotation, with Jordan Montgomery looking like the favorite to win it.

Paxton and the Yankees agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton will get a raise of just shy of $4 million. In 29 starts for the Yankees last season, he posted a 3.82 ERA, a near match for his 28 starts and 3.76 ERA from 2018.