Once again, the Boston Red Sox lost out on a free-agency target.
Though they haven’t been able to finish the job this summer, Boston is in need of starting rotation support. Although they traded Chris Sale earlier in the summer, the Red Sox managed to get Lucas Giolito.
Before Spring Training arrives, the Red Sox probably still need to bring in two starters. Boston should aim to acquire both a high-caliber and a mid-caliber pitcher.
James Paxton is one player that has often been mentioned as a possibility. He was considered as a potential reunion prospect after playing for Boston for the previous two seasons. Despite this, on Monday it was announced that he had accepted a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While Boston did not get to reunite with Paxton, Rob Bradford of WEEI reports that the team expressed “strong interest” in making a transaction.
“Per source, while Red Sox did have a strong interest in James Paxton his priority was staying on West Coast closer to his home,” Bradford stated.
Paxton missed the whole 2022 season, but he played in the previous two. Before an injury cut short his season early, he was one of Boston’s most reliable pitchers when he took the mound again in 2023.
The Red Sox now have to start over from scratch even though it would have made perfect sense to get Paxton back into the fold. The club is running out of choices, and more effort needs to be done to support the rotation.
Further MLB: Former Astros and Blue Jays pitcher reportedly available; logical landing spot would be the Red Sox
