Red Sox bring back Paxton in trade with Dodgers

BOSTON -- The Red Sox had been on the hunt for a starting pitcher -- preferably a left-hander -- and they secured one who happens to be a familiar face on Friday, four days in advance of Tuesday’s Trade Deadline.

James Paxton, who spent the ’23 season with the Red Sox re-establishing his health after years of injuries, is coming back.

The 35-year-old lefty was acquired from the Dodgers for Minor League infielder Moises Bolivar. In 18 starts for Los Angeles this season, the Big Maple went 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA, logging 89 1/3 innings.

Paxton had just pitched against the Red Sox this past Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, giving up an early two-run homer to Jarren Duran but settling down to get the win, allowing three runs over five innings.

The next day, he was designated for assignment by a deep Dodgers team that got Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw back from the injured list this week.

Paxton is now the only lefty in Boston’s rotation, and he will slot somewhere in a group that also includes Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford and Brayan Bello.

Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski have been the main pitchers used in the fifth spot.

After a sizzling start from the rotation under new pitching coach Andrew Bailey, Boston has dipped a little lately, but their starters have compiled a solid 3.75 ERA, fifth in the American League.

The other benefit of adding Paxton is that it deepens the rotation that doesn’t have much protection in the upper Minors if another starter gets hurt.

The Sox had already lost Lucas Giolito for the season in Spring Training due to a repair of the UCL ligament in his right elbow. Garrett Whitlock didn’t pitch after April 16 and wound up undergoing the same internal bracing procedure in his right elbow as Giolito.

Paxton signed with the Red Sox prior to the ’22 season, but didn’t make his Boston debut until May 12, 2023, due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery before the signing and other injuries that popped up along the way. Paxton went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts for the Sox last season.

The Red Sox had interest in bringing Paxton back this past offseason, but he opted to sign with the Dodgers instead.

The 17-year-old Bolivar, who did not rank among Boston’s Top 30 Prospects, is batting .270 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 31 Rookie League games this season.

Paxton is 72-40 with a 3.76 ERA in 11 seasons with the Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers.

With Paxton in the fold, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow can focus on two other areas of need prior to the Trade Deadline: bullpen help and a right-handed bat.