James Paxton To Red Sox? Why Boston Should Bring Back Left-Hander

The Boston Red Sox have a week left before the July 30 MLB trade deadline, and with an 0-4 record coming out of the All-Star break, the importance of pitching depth has become increasingly apparent.

Fortunately for Boston’s front office, the team doesn’t need to break the bank to enhance its pitching staff. James Paxton, who spent two years with the Red Sox, became available after the Los Angeles Dodgers designated the 35-year-old for assignment. The “difficult decision” made by the National League West-leading Dodgers — who swept Boston in three games fresh off the All-Star breather — could inadvertently assist the Red Sox.

“It was a difficult decision,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday, per ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “He handled it like a pro. We feel good about the starting staff going forward.”

Paxton signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Los Angeles in the offseason and emerged as one of the most reliable members in the rotation — joining Gavin Stone as the only two Dodgers pitchers to not miss a start this season. Paxton logged 18 trips to the mound, going 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 89 1/3 innings pitched before parting ways with Los Angeles. On six occasions, Paxton threw six-plus innings and limited opponents to three or fewer runs on each instance.

That level of production could go a long way for the Red Sox and their postseason hopes.

From the get-go, Boston endured the anchoring impact of pitching an injury-riddled rotation. The organization lost Lucas Gioltio, who was signed to a two-year deal in the offseason, and Garrett Whitlock, both to season-ending right elbow ulnar collateral ligament injuries. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has done a commendable job keeping the train running by plugging in arms like Josh Winckowski and Cooper Criswell behind Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford and Nick Pivetta, however, adding another veteran to the mix could alleviate the staff’s current issues.

Paxton, too, has experience overcoming the injury list in Boston. While joining the Red Sox in December 2021, Paxton was in the middle of recovering from Tommy John surgery, which kept him sidelined for the entirety of 2022. It took a two-year absence before Paxton was able to make his belated Red Sox debut in May 2023, which was followed by a 7-5 run through 19 appearances (4.50 ERA) for the rest of the campaign.

Boston, like Los Angeles, wouldn’t need Paxton to steamroll for the remainder of 2024 with an Ace-like run. Instead, providing an identical level of production, Paxton’s given the Dodgers of going five-plus innings — in 12-of-19 outings — could do wonders for the Red Sox and what Cora’s aiming to accomplish down the line. Paxton could lift some pressure off the bullpen by providing some much-needed flexibility and help turn the page in the division standings, too — Boston trailed the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles by seven games after Monday night’s 9-8 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Most importantly, a reunion with Paxton wouldn’t require anything more than the Red Sox to pay the prorated remainder of his $4 million salary.