Red Sox could reunite with free agency whiff after Dodgers' surprising DFA

The Boston Red Sox had a rough 2023-24 offseason, mostly at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

LA signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernández and James Paxton, all Red Sox free agency targets from the past winter. The day after it faced one of them, Boston has a chance to add to the roster before the trade deadline.

The Red Sox could pursue a reunion with Paxton, whom the Dodgers designated for assignment on July 22, just one day after his start against his former team. He allowed three runs on four hits over five innings and fanned seven Sox, his second-highest strikeout total of the season.

Paxton's most recent start wasn't among his worst, but the Dodgers needed to free up a roster spot for team legend Clayton Kershaw. LA also expects Tyler Glasnow to return from the injured list later in the week.

Red Sox could attempt reunion with recently-DFA'd Dodger James Paxton

Paxton has pitched to a 4.43 ERA in 89.1 innings. His stats don't jump off the page — he's fanned 64 batters and walked 48, but the 35-year-old has 11 years of MLB experience that could go a long way in Boston's (mostly) young rotation. Paxton is also left-handed, and he would become the only lefty among the Sox's starters if they swing a deal for him.

The Dodgers unloaded Paxton to create a roster spot for their more prized arms, but he's also two starts away from a condition in his contract that secures him more money. The southpaw has made 18 starts, and if he makes 20, he could make up to $13 million this year, quite an increase from his $7 million guaranteed.

Paxton has never made more than 29 starts in his career and he's well on his way to that number. The veteran wouldn't be the most reliable choice as Boston's fifth starter, as he's frequently injured and his track record suggests he may not have many starts left in him this season. But if the Sox will be out-bid for a starter before the trade deadline — and recent history shows they might — Paxton could be among their best and cheapest options.

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