Red Sox Make First Move, Acquire James Paxton to Bolster Rotation
The Red Sox have made their first move leading up to the trade deadline, acquiring left-hander James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers. This move comes after a season-defining stretch in which the Red Sox proved they could contend, winning 20 out of 28 games before the All-Star break. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow believes that adding a few key pieces will solidify the team’s chances of making a playoff run.
Paxton, who had a 4.43 ERA through 18 starts for the Dodgers, brings reliable innings to the Red Sox rotation. With pitchers like Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford exceeding their total innings from last year, Paxton’s addition will help stabilize the group. It may even lead to a six-man rotation at times to give the pitchers more rest.
However, Breslow is not ruling out the possibility of adding another starting pitcher. He believes in continuously looking for opportunities to improve the team. The Red Sox are also prioritizing the addition of a reliever and a right-handed bat. They have a strong farm system that allows them to make trades and strengthen areas of need.
The addition of Paxton is just the beginning of Breslow’s moves before the trade deadline. He has expressed a desire to walk out of the deadline having made improvements in multiple areas. The Red Sox are currently 6 1/2 games back of the first-place Orioles in the AL East and 4 1/2 games behind the Yankees. They are also one game back of the third spot in the AL Wild Card race.
The weekend series against the Yankees presents a crucial opportunity for the Red Sox to climb in the standings. The Yankees have struggled against left-handed pitching, making Paxton a valuable asset in this matchup. While the Red Sox have also had their own struggles against lefties, they have performed better than the Yankees in this area.
Paxton’s availability to start this weekend is uncertain, as he has not had a normal week of throwing. However, the Red Sox may make a last-minute addition to the rotation if they decide to start him against the Yankees. In the meantime, internal reinforcements for the Red Sox are getting closer to returning. Players like Triston Casas, Vaughn Grissom, and Liam Hendriks are progressing in their rehab and could soon be back on the roster.
Overall, the addition of James Paxton strengthens the Red Sox rotation and positions them to make further improvements before the trade deadline. Breslow is determined to make the team better and believes they have a chance to contend for a playoff spot. With key matchups against the Yankees this weekend, the Red Sox have an opportunity to gain ground in the standings and solidify their position as contenders in the AL East.