The Boston Red Sox traded for lefty pitcher James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In return, the Dodgers got Moises Bolivar, a corner infielder from the Dominican Summer League. Paxton, who is 35 years old, had a 4.43 ERA in 18 starts for the Dodgers this season. Last year with the Red Sox, he posted a 101 ERA+ over 19 starts.
Paxton’s performance has been declining recently. His velocity and strikeout rates have dropped . The Dodgers needed to make room for Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw, who are coming back from injuries.
Red Sox’s Pitching Woes:
“Obviously not an easy decision. Pax is a total pro, did everything that we asked of him,” said Brandon Gomes, the Dodgers’ general manager. He mentioned that their focus was on both short-term wins and future playoff potential.
For Boston, bringing back Paxton seems logical as they need more pitching options. Injuries to Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock have left gaps in their rotation. Plus, Brayan Bello hasn’t met expectations this year, and their team ERA over the last month ranks poorly at 23rd in the league.
Fans might think this move shows how desperate Boston is for pitching help.
The Red Sox had a record of 54-47 as of Friday, just one game behind the Kansas City Royals for a wild-card spot in the American League.
What do you think about this trade?
