Red Sox Bring Back Veteran Pitcher James Paxton in Trade With Dodgers

James Paxton’s last start with the Los Angeles Dodgers may not have been particularly special, but it caught the eye of the Boston Red Sox. Boston announced Friday morning that they have acquired the veteran pitcher from the Dodgers in exchange for minor league infielder Moises Bolivar.

Paxton, 35, started 18 games for Los Angeles this season, posting an 8-2 record with a 4.43 ERA and 64 strikeouts over 89 1/3 innings pitched. Despite these numbers, the Dodgers designated him for assignment on Monday, making the trade possible.

This trade marks a return to Boston for Paxton, who pitched for the Red Sox in 2023. During that season, he went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA and 101 strikeouts across 96 innings pitched.

The Canadian hurler is in his 11th big-league season, having split his career between the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Boston, and Los Angeles. His experience and previous stint with the Red Sox likely influenced Boston’s decision to bring him back.

Currently, the Red Sox are in a heated race for a wild-card position in the American League. They trail the Kansas City Royals by one game for the league’s final playoff spot, making this acquisition a strategic move to bolster their pitching staff for the critical stretch run.