Red Sox Pull Off Major Trade to Reunite With Former Starting Pitcher
By Ryan Bunton
Ahead of the MLB trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox are making a move to strengthen their starting rotation.
On Friday, the Red Sox swung a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for southpaw James Paxton, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Paxton was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Monday.
Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Boston will be on the hook for about $1.5 million, a marginal price to pay for the former Red Sox pitcher. Minor league infielder Moises Bolivar will be heading to L.A. in exchange for Paxton.
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring left-hander James Paxton in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, sources tell ESPN. Done deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 26, 2024
Paxton, 35, will return to Boston, where he spent the 2023 season, after being DFA’d by the Dodgers. In 89.1 innings this season, he has a 4.43 ERA.
Paxton was surprisingly DFA'd after a relatively productive 2024 campaign. In 18 starts in Southern California, the 35-year-old was 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA. Despite his impressive win-loss record, Paxton's walk numbers are up and his strikeout numbers are down.
Paxton signed with the Red Sox in Dec. 2021 but missed the entire 2022 season. In his lone season on the bump in Boston, "Big Maple" was the Sox's best starter for a significant part of the 2023 campaign, especially when he got off to a 6-2 record with a 3.34 ERA. His second half left much to be desired, as he eventually finished with a 7-5 record and a 4.50 ERA.
As Tuesday's trade deadline approaches, the Red Sox could still be looking to make another addition to the rotation. Per Bob Nightengale, Boston has also kicked the tires on Chicago Cubs pitcher James Taillon.
The MLB trade deadline is Tuesday, July 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
More Red Sox news and analysis:
feed