Red Sox Starting Pitcher Surprisingly Set To Retire At End Of Season

James Paxton's second stint with the Red Sox only lasted three starts, and unless Boston makes the postseason, there's no chance of it going further than that.

The veteran left-handed pitcher told WEEI's Rob Bradford on Wednesday that he plans to retire following this season. Paxton pitched 11 injury-filled seasons in the big leagues, including one-plus season with the Red Sox.

Paxton, 35, said he came to the decision after talking about retiring with his family throughout this season.

"It's tough. Obviously, I think that I can still do it. I can still go out there and compete and help a team win," Paxton told Bradford. "But I just think with where my family's at and what they need right now, they need me home. I feel the duty and the responsibility to be at home with my family and I'm looking forward to being at home with my family and spending more time with them, too."

The Red Sox traded for Paxton in late July after the Los Angeles Dodgers designated him for assignment. Boston thought Paxton would fortify its starting rotation and help in its playoff push, but his season looks over after suffering a partial tear in his calf muscle.

Paxton ended up going 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in his brief return to the Red Sox. He initially signed with the club in 2022, but didn't pitch a single inning in the majors that year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He came back in 2023 and made 19 starts for the Red Sox, posting a 7-5 record with a 4.50 ERA to go along with 101 strikeouts in 96 innings.

The 6-foot-4, 212-pound lefty and Canada native, who affectionally earned the nickname "Big Maple," is most known for his time with the Seattle Mariners -- he pitched seven seasons with the franchise -- and also spent two seasons with the New York Yankees. He finished his career with a 73-41 record and a 3.77 ERA.

Paxton told Bradford he plans to start a company with his friend called Athlete Complete, which focuses on mental health in sports.