of Boston Red Sox Left-handed James Paxton Los Angeles Dodgers The team acquired minor league infielder Moises Bolivar on Friday, strengthening a rotation that could help the team make a playoff push in a crowded American League team.
The deal for the 35-year-old Paxton came after Los Angeles designated him for designated use on Monday. Paxton pitched 89 1/3 innings with a 4.43 ERA over 18 starts and helped stabilize an injury-riddled starting lineup, just as he did in 2023 with Boston.
With Paxton returning to the Red Sox and signing a one-year, $7 million free agent deal with Los Angeles, Boston now has seven starting pitchers in the mix. Tanner Hack, Cutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta, Brian Bello, Cooper Criswell and Josh WinkowskiHe is currently pitching out of the bullpen.
The Red Sox’s surprising run — one game behind Kansas City for the final American League wild-card spot — has the team looking to improve its margin of victory. The Paxton acquisition doesn’t signal the Red Sox will make any major additions before Tuesday’s trade deadline, but it does signal newly-appointed chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s eagerness to bolster a team that has exceeded expectations and helped earn manager Alex Cora a three-year contract extension.
Starting pitching has been a particular target for Boston, but the trade market had been slow before Thursday’s trade that sent the left-handed relief pitcher to Boston. AJ Puk To Arizona Diamondbacks Outfielder Randy Arozarena To Seattle Mariners.
Paxton’s acquisition adds depth to a young starting corps led by Hawk, who was selected to the All-Star team for the first time this season, even though his expected numbers are much lower than his actual performance. Paxton’s strikeout-to-walk ratio of 64 to 48 was one of the worst in the major leagues, but he was still surprisingly effective. The Dodgers let Paxton go due to a lack of starting pitchers. Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw I’ll be back this week.
Dodgers looking to pitch right-handed Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller He will return from injured reserve soon, leaving those four in addition to a rookie. Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, Justin Wolobelski and Ryan River As a candidate for the starting pitcher. Right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto He remains on the disabled list with a shoulder injury and no estimated return date has been set.
The 17-year-old Bolivar signed with the Red Sox for 2024. In 31 games with the Red Sox Blue in the Dominican Summer League this season, the right-handed hitter batted .270 with a .787 OPS while starting 23 times at third base, three times at first base and five times as the designated hitter.
