Paxton traded to Red Sox

July 27, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

The Boston Red Sox reacquired James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in exchange for minor league infielder Moises Bolivar.

Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) returns to Beantown where he posted a 7-5 record with a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts for the Red Sox last season

In a surprise move, the Los Angeles Dodgers had designated the Canadian left-hander for assignment on Monday to clear a roster spot for prized right-hander River Ryan to make his big league debut.

In 18 starts for the Dodgers this season, Paxton was 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 89 innings. He also had a National League-leading 48 walks.

The 35-year-old southpaw notched his eighth win of the season on Sunday when he started and allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out seven, in the Dodgers’ 9-6 win over the Red Sox at Dodger Stadium.

Paxton signed a complicated one-year deal with the Dodgers in February that, including bonuses, will pay him $13 million this season. He inked the deal after his 19 starts with the Red Sox last season. Prior to that, he had missed almost two full seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

A North Delta Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum, Paxton has pitched in parts of 11 major league campaigns with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers and owns a 72-40 record and a 3.76 ERA in 174 starts.

Bolivar, the infield prospect the Dodgers landed for Paxton, is 17 and was signed by the Red Sox earlier this year. In 31 games with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox, he has hit .270 with a .787 OPS. He has made 23 starts at third base, three at first base, and five as the DH.