James Paxton's injury weighs on Boston Red Sox rotation

Major League Baseball teams are looking for pitchers everywhere.

The teams need starting pitchers. And they need reinforcements in the bullpen.

With faint hopes of possibly catching up with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in the American League East, the Boston Red Sox boosted their pitching potential by trading left-handed starter James Paxton.

Paxton, 35, was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 26 in exchange for 17-year-old minor league infielder Moises Bolivar.

The Red Sox probably hoped that signing Paxton would improve their chances of securing at least one of the American League's three wild-card spots.

The Red Sox occupy one of those spots just behind the Baltimore Orioles, the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals.

Paxton is now on the injured list due to a partial tear of his right calf muscle.

It is said that it is “unlikely” that he will return this season.

Paxton left his start on August 11 in pain.

The loss of Paxton puts additional pressure on their starting lineup.

Calf problems can be serious and long-lasting, and are especially difficult for pitchers who rely so heavily on the strength in their legs.

Paxton told MLB.com: “It felt like I got kicked in the calf,” a limping Paxton said after the game, having faced just three batters that day. “Then I turned around, took another step and felt it again and thought, 'Oh, that's not good.'”

About James Paxton:

The trade with the Dodgers saw Paxton return to the Red Sox, where he started 19 games in 2023.

Paxton was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on July 22.

Paxton is 6'5″ tall and weighs 215 lbs.

Paxton was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round of the MLB Draft in June 2009. He was the 37th player selected that year.

Paxton has not signed with the Blue Jays.

The following June, Paxton entered the draft again. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2010 draft by the Seattle Mariners.

Paxton received a signing bonus of $942,500 from Seattle.

Paxton, who is in his 11th year, has pitched in the major leagues for the Mariners, New York Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers.

Low risk – possible reward:

The Dodgers received Bolivar, a promising international free agent from Venezuela who signed with Boston in January of this year.

Bolivar received a signing bonus of $25,000 from the Red Sox.

Bolivar is 6'0″ and weighs 175 pounds. He was signed by the Red Sox as a shortstop, but played corner infield for Boston's new addition to the Dominican Summer League.

Essentially, the Red Sox traded an unproven but talented young infielder to the Dodgers in exchange for a proven left-handed major league starter.

At the time of the trade, it seemed like there was little risk involved for Boston in completing the deal.

However, with Paxton now out, the rotation must cover his starts.

Paxton was a seasoned veteran and, when healthy, was viewed as someone who could eat up innings.

About James Paxton this year:

With his return to the Red Sox, Paxton seemed like a good choice to help his former team down the home stretch.

Paxton had provided the Red Sox with a left-handed starting pitcher to complement their previously entirely right-handed starting lineup.

The Red Sox must repay about $2.5 million of the one-year, $7 million free agent contract Paxton signed with the Dodgers in January.

Paxton's contract with the Red Sox for 2023 was worth $4 million. His free agent deal with the Dodgers brought the veteran starter a significant raise.

In 2020, in his 31st season, Paxton signed a $12.5 million contract with the Yankees, the highest contract value of his career.

This year, Paxton started 18 times for the Dodgers.

In fact, Paxton won four of his last five starts with the Dodgers.

In his entire career, Paxton had never allowed more than 55 hitters to walk in a season. He was on pace to perhaps surpass that mark when he was sidelined with a calf strain.

Fangraphs.com predicts the Red Sox rotation should look like this:

Tanner Houck-RHP

Nick Pivetta-RHP

Brayan Bello – RHP

Cutter Crawford-RHP

Right-handed starter Cooper Criswell was in Covid protocol at the time of this writing. He could return immediately or in the next few days to make his next start.

The loss of Paxton further limits the already limited depth of starting pitchers.

Now the Red Sox have to wait and see how long Paxton will be out of their rotation due to his calf injury.

Paxton's injury puts an additional strain on the Red Sox's rotation and their quest for a postseason berth.