Red Sox lefty James Paxton, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year, seems to finally be healthy enough to start ramping things up. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that the southpaw recently faced lived hitters and is expected to throw in a simulated game this Friday. The next step after that will be for him to start a rehab assignment, which would be followed by a return to the big league club.
“He’s in such a good spot now that it’s not about the arm,” manager Alex Cora said about Paxton. “It’s about the pitch mix, the breaking ball, all that. When those guys start talking about that, you know they’re over the hump.”
Paxton’s form down the stretch will be very significant both for him and the club, regardless of where they are in the standings. Boston signed him to a unique contract over the offseason, knowing that he was rehabbing from TJS and unlikely to contribute over a full season. Paxton is making a $6MM salary this year and then the club will have to decide whether or not to trigger two $13MM options for 2023-2024 at the end of the season. If the team declines to pick up what is effectively a two-year, $26MM deal, Paxton can decide to trigger a $4MM player option for 2023 or decline it and return to free agency. Those decisions will surely depend upon what Paxton shows in the coming weeks.
The Red Sox could use some contributions from Paxton, both in this season and in the future, given the tumult of their rotation. Just about every starter in Boston’s rotation has either landed on the IL or been optioned to the minors at some point, with Nick Pivetta being the only constant. Michael Wacha has only made 13 starts this year due to a pair of IL stints, one for an intercostal strain and the other for shoulder inflammation. However, Cotillo reports that he threw 4 1/3 innings in a rehab start last night and should return to the big league club for his next outing. That should give the club a boost, as they look to finish strong in the AL Wild Card race. They are currently five games behind the Rays for the last spot.
Looking farther into the future, each of Wacha, Nathan Eovaldi and Rich Hill are slated to reach free agency this offseason, which is part of the reason why those Paxton options might seem alluring, even if he only returns for a brief period of time. The 2023 Boston rotation might also take a hit from the uncertainty surrounding Chris Sale. The lefty was once one of the most dominant arms in the game but has hardly pitched in recent years due to a cavalcade of injuries. Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2020 and limited him to nine starts last year. He began this year on the IL due to a stress fracture in rib cage, returning to throw one five-inning start before his second start was cut short after less than an inning when a comebacker broke his finger. While on the IL, he managed to get hurt again, falling off a bicycle near his home and breaking his wrist, eliminating any hopes of his return this year.
Due to all that, Sale will go into the offseason having thrown just 48 1/3 total innings over the past three seasons, which raises questions about how much the Red Sox can rely on him for the rotation next year. “We obviously need to think through what that means as far as planning out a full season with him not having carried very much of a workload the last few years,” chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom tells Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. “If we want to play 162-plus we have to build our team to have a lot of starting pitching depth,” he added. With Hill, Wacha and Eovaldi headed to the open market and Sale and Paxton unknown wild cards at this point, there’s plenty of uncertainty hanging over Boston’s future rotation.
Turning back to the present season, the Sox placed reliever Tanner Houck on the 15-day injured list with back inflammation yesterday, Cotillo relays, which will deliver a hit to the bullpen. Houck has a 3.15 ERA on the year, with a 22.7% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate and 50.9% ground ball rate. That’s included many high-leverage spots, as Houck as eight saves and one hold on the year. He’ll join Tyler Danish, Matt Strahm and Josh Taylor among Boston relievers currently on the injured list. The bullpen is so banged up that Cora told reporters, including Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, that Hill might see some action out of the ’pen, despite having just started yesterday’s game.
A man with high degree of injury risk shouldn’t be getting that club option
Totally disagree. A two year 26m deal is well worth the flyer.
Hopefully, Bloom will in the off season work on the staff. The hitting has been a disappointment but the pitching has been a horror.
Hopefully in the off season, if not sooner, Bloom will be gone.
Sounds like good news on the Paxton front. Question. Because of his situation, does he have to be on the active roster prior to September 1st to be playoff eligible?
Yes. You read right. I do believe if pitching gets healthy, the Sox can get in to the post season.
We can hope, he has been awful
Paxton, Wacha, Sale, Eovaldi & Hill? I’ve always liked Boston, but this is a castle built of sand.
As a Yankee’s fan, I like those pitchers a lot. Hill is like 57, but no reason why those other pitchers can’t be effective next season. Maybe even Hill at 58?
Jeff – Players on the IL September 1st are eligible for the postseason.
And I do still believe they have a chance, but only if several key players return from injury. Hernandez, Wacha and Houck immediately come to mind.
rules – That will never happen, Henry wasn’t trying to win this year. He recently called 2022 another “building year”. Only when a drop in revenue cuts too much into profits will Henry decide to make a change.
I’m sure Boston wants to see how he’s doing lst, before even thinking about those options in his contract. If Pax is healthy, there’s no reason why he can’t be a #3 in that Red Sox rotation. He’s definitely worth a look, if he’s throwing well. A big if.
What a mess of injuries on this staff. Not their year. Every time some one starts throwing well they go down. A lot of talent on the sidelines.
hayzee – Sox have been hit with injuries, but no worse than some other teams.
Devers and Xander have been healthy for most of the season. Some players such as Sale and Hill you’d expect to miss significant time.
Look at Tampa with Baz, Glasnow, Kittredge, Zunino, Franco, etc all on the IL for an extended period of time.
Same with the Jays and Pearson, Ryu and Springer.
Pearson was never expected to play an important role for TO.
Spring is on the 10-day DL.
Ryu is a legit loss, but still only missed 15 starts.
TB has had a ton of injuries, which is why they are at only .531. Toronto is one of the healthiest teams in baseball.
I don’t know how Red Sox brass saw Paxton’s work with the Yankees and said, “we gotta have that”
He was 15-6 with a 3.82 in 2019. Are you saying we don’t need that?
@Fred- If Pax is healthy he’s definitely worth that contract of 2 years, $26 mill. Why wouldn’t Boston not wanna see him throw now? Smh
The Red Sox signed Paxton with full intentions of picking up his contract. As soon as the last suture was tied the deal was done. Nobody pays someone 6 million, rehabs them fully, and then let’s them walk and be productive for someone else.
Collin McHugh?
McHugh opted out of 2020 due to covid after getting $950K which was annoying.
That assumes some degree of health, This is fairly common now with all the TJS’. Clevinger got $11.5M/2 even though he was going to miss 2021. TB signed Glasnow even thought he will miss 2022, because he is Year 4 arbitration in 2023.
What a dismal season. Everyone will say it’s the pitching but the offense has been terrible.
Bloom really hurt our chances this year by not fully selling. Bad move on his part not to sell when we had a small window to succeed (a very small one). Martinez and Eovaldi should be playing for contenders.
I’m guessing Bloom did not like any of the offers he got for Eovaldi and JD. I think he might give them both qualifying offers. That way he gets them each for one more year or a draft pick to get something better than what was offered at the trade deadline. I think JD would accept a QO. Not sure if Eovaldi would accept a QO, but I think there is some chance he would accept.
I’m guessing Bloom did not like any of the offers he got for Eovaldi and JD.
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My guess is that JD has been so bad that no one really wanted him at that salary. I’m cherry-picking here, but from 6/17-8/2, JD had an OPS of .505, with 1 HR in 137 ABs, with a .183 average. At the age of almost 35, a lot of teams might be thinking that he is finished. Bats like Vogelbach were available without having to pay another $6-7M.
I’m sure Eovaldi had value, but he also has a shot at a QO, lessening the motivation to trade him.
Joe Brady – Absolutely agree! JD has been horrible, and I am sure no team wanted him without adding prospects or the Red Sox paying the majority of his $6,500,000 remaining salary. Neither of these the Red Sox would do (Bloom has clearly shown he will not give away prospects)!
If JD is offered a QO he will take it as he had passed of all three opt-outs. The Red Sox will not offer JD a QO as his production has fallen off a cliff. The money can be better spent elsewhere, but they will on Eovaldi! A one year QO would be a good fit . I can also see them offering an extension to Wacha if he finishes the season like he has pitched so far (13 starts – 2.69 ERA).
JC#15 hours ago
I can also see them offering an extension to Wacha if he finishes the season like he has pitched so far (13 starts – 2.69 ERA).
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As I slowly lose touch with reality (at least fiscally), throw $200M/5 at Degrom.
DeGrom-Sale-Pivetta-Paxton-Crawford-Winckowski #6/LR
Houck-Whitlock-Schreiber-Bello-Sawamura-extend Strahm-sign shutdown lefty
Joe – 3 hits and both of the team’s RBI tonight against the Yanks, you keep crapping on JD for being “old” and he’ll keep proving you wrong. Hitters like him don’t drop off a cliff, if JD is healthy he will hit.
3 hits and both of the team’s RBI tonight against the Yanks,
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Nowhere did I say that JD would never get another hit. He basically got three singles in 11 ABs v the Yankees. Not exactly a wow moment if that’s your highlight.
I hope he gets back, but he’s been horrible for most of the season. In his last 181 ABs, he has one HR and a 52/13 K/W. That’s probably close to being the worst player in BB over that time frame.
JD and Eovaldi will get QOs, and neither will accept. 1 year 20M deal would be win for management not the player.
I doubt JD gets offered more than $20M, but we shall see.
I can’t see it. He’s a professional, so he could improve the rest of the way, but he’s been so bad lately, and at his age???
Gambling $13M per year for two years of James Paxton and a new elbow certainly seems like a worthwhile risk to me.
The bloom is off the rose .
The bloom is off of you if you really thought the Red Sox intended to field a strong team this year. Did you really think that Hill, Wacha, Robles, no closer and no Schwarber would lead us to the promised land? It looks like building the farm system is the top priority which is why they traded Renfroe for prospects and took on Ottavino’s contract the year before for prospects. It looks like Bloom is getting the results he wants: adding prospects to the farm and getting a high draft pick as well as keeping costs down while the prospects develop. Unfortunately for spoiled, entitled and impatient Red Sox fans, it is not the result they want.
B I N G O !
I had a saying when working in companies where everywhere I ever worked the majority of the people moaned and bi*ched constantly…..
“You know why thing run here the way they do? Because the people that own the company want it run that way. If they didn’t they’d fire all the people that are making the decisions and implementing the policies”.
P.S. Red Sox fans crap on here about everything they do. Christian Vazquez was a lousy Catcher, he was fat, couldn’t hit, a slow runner…..etc. all. Then they trade him and the comments changed to: “Christian Vazquez is so valuable, how could we have let him go?!?!?!?”.
Red Sox fans on here need to get something going in their lives. It’s only a sports team.
P.S. Red Sox fans crap on here about everything they do. Christian Vazquez was a lousy Catcher, he was fat, couldn’t hit, a slow runner…..etc. all. Then they trade him and the comments changed to: “Christian Vazquez is so valuable, how could we have let him go?!?!?!?”.
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ROTFLMAO!!!
Are you new here, kid? RS fans are a class unto themselves. Not all of them obviously, but a whole lot of them would complain no matter what we do. They use to call Joe Kelly “Jokelly”, until the day he signed with the LAD, and then complained non-stop.
Another who was beside himself with joy that we replaced HOF manager Tito with worst manger ever Valentine.
There was someone who wanted Bogaerts cut.
Another guy who spent 6 years calling Ellsbury the “Tinman” only to complain when the NYY signed him.
That said, a lot of these people are damaged from witnessing some huge disappointments. Bob f’ing Gibson, a great RS team running into an even better Big Red Machine, Buckner (and I saw that one live), leaving Pedro on the mound when 6,999,999,999 people around the world thought he’d be pulled.
Heck, I’m the eternal optimist, and it took until after 2007 that I got over my murderous rage. But a lot of other fans will be damaged forever.
Joe – Good post, but Red Sox fans these days aren’t much different than fans of many other teams. There will always be idiots among the casuals and unintelligent, and every year fans of approximately 24 MLB teams complain. You keep trying to paint Sox fans as the worst, when they are not. And you do it under Red Sox topics, which is blatant trolling.
When was the last time a Red Sox fan savagely beat or killed an opposing fan, or intentionally vomited on a child at a game. All those things, and many more acts of violence, were done by non-Boston fans.
Dude thats a really messed up take. Boston is right up there with the Dodgers and Yankees when it comes to biggest revenue teams in baseball. Their fans pay top dollar to see them play. There is no excuse for not making the postseason every year like the Yankees do.You want them to forfeit for 5 consecutive years because you think their prospects are a sure thing? That’s beyond stupid.
So, not spending a lot of money is messed up, eh? No one forces the fans to pay for anything. I canceled my trip to Boston this year. What is your plan besides spending a lot of money? The Yankees fall short every year, but they do spend a lot of money. The Dodgers have been falling short too. I don’t count the shortened 2020 season as a real season. I like Bloom’s apparent plan to build a contender based on the farm system and spending as necessary to fill holes. I think that has the best chance to maximize the number of World Series wins, but it takes some patience. I think most free agents that money could be spent on are older players who could quickly turn into bad contracts. Then you are stuck playing a guy like Aaron Hicks. I like building through the farm better. Do you follow the minor leagues? It is pretty fun. A good place to follow the Red Sox farm system is soxprospects.com. I could see how someone who has no idea what is going on in the farm system could think Bloom is crazy.
You want them to forfeit for 5 consecutive years because you think their prospects are a sure thing?
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5 consecutive seasons?
1-Even assuming that this will be season #1, 5 years takes us to 2027.
2-Virtually every prospect we have should arrive by 2025.
3-And we aren’t forfeiting 2023 and 2024. The RS never forfeit seasons.
Joe – I know you’re a NY’er so you don’t get it, but if you had roots in New England you’d (hopefully) understand. The Red Sox simply haven’t tried their hardest to win since their 2018 championship.
In 2019 Cora’s approach to ST and the start of the regular season put them in a huge hole, then ownership refused to acquire help at the deadline and they predictably gave up on the season.
We all know 2020 was a LT reset year.
We all know 2021 was a year of bargain basement signings and no major trades (Schwarber was had for nothing because of his injury status).
And we all know 2022 had one significant signing (I’m being generous here with Story) and no significant trades.
While I wouldn’t characterize 2019 or 2021 as forfeit years, they certainly weren’t GFIN years either. If you think the Sox won’t be GFIN until Mayer and Yorke are regular starters, then that means the Sox won’t be trying to win until 2024-2025. That simply won’t fly with real Sox fans, nor should it.
The Red Sox simply haven’t tried their hardest to win since their 2018 championship.
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They kept everyone from the 2018 team, even with some overpayments.
No the bloom is off of you for questioning the off bloom rose
Don’t worry Red Sox Nation. Getting dressed down by the biggest Donkey clown on here, Samuel, is a major blessing, not a curse
How so?
I really don’t expect much from Paxton.. but since he is getting paid.. Well why not see what he’s got.. but word on the street is that Sale bought him a bike..
f you think about it, hes in a way doing what Ben cherington did, restock the farm system so the next guy, who was DD( dont feel like looking up how is name is spelt), Dombrowski, he had plenty to trade which is why he was able to get stars, trust me, nobody on this planet hates David price more than me, but the fact that he was able to sign both him and sale was because they have a great farm system, while the red sox now are a complete mess, they will be able to get a superstar just from the talent over the years they have acquired.
i mean lets say for the sake of it the red sox got soto, right now everyone would be saying’ ya but you emptied the farm system to get him’ they legite cant win no matter what they do. Thats why theo epstein was tremendous, no matter how many superstars he had he always made sure the minor leagues were full of guys
paxton is already a lock for 2023, whether he piches or not, so is pivetta and sale, nobody else, the best they can do is trade sale and somehow not pay all the rest of the contract, which wouldnt be possible, i hope sale wins like 23 games next year wherever he pitches so he can say f you to everyone
also 1 thing i still dont get, why isnt triston casas on the team yet, is he hurt? this seasons OVER, cant hurt to see how good he is for 5 weeks
why isnt triston casas on the team yet
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My pure guess is that they are considering trading him, and don’t want to expose him to ML pitching. He has a .608 against lefties this year. .591 last year. If we bring him up in mid-September, we can hide him. If we bring him up now, and he has to face lefties, he likely get exposed.
The other possibility is the Red Sox want to keep his rookie status in tact for next year. Teams will receive extra draft picks if they promote young players to their Opening Day roster who then go on to finish in the top 3 in the Rookie of the Year voting.
I just don’t see Bloom giving up on his Dalbec/Hosmer platoon. I think, very precariously, those two will be league-average next year at minimum wage.
and ya i agree 100% on the vaqquez thing, he was a terrible hitter and a very average catcher, i didnt blink when he was traded, the fact that everyones acting like hes the second coming of Jesus is beyond me, 1 player said ‘we’ll miss throwing to him’
i was like, hes a catcher, hit legite crouches and holds open a glove, anybody can do that, get over yourselves and stop blaming the trade deadline for this years product on the field. The fact that was somehow hitting this year just tells you how bad your team truly is.
I wouldn’t call a .280 something average a “terrible hitter.” Sure, not the best, but a lot better hitting than most other catchers in the league (at least this year).
He’s a decent catcher, but I agree with Amanda & Samuel on this one. I’d have been fine extending him for something like $14M/2. But some of the fans, and most of the RS writers, are treating this like a low-key Soto trade. He was perfectly acceptable, but nothing more than that.
From 2016-2021, he had a cumulative bWAR of 4.0, or 1.3/650 PAs. He’s having a good year, but I have to think that is related to the fact that it’s his contract year, and he finally showed up in what I describe as “not awful shape”.
Joe – Interesting but not surprising that you came around on Vazquez only after Bloom finally succeeded in trading him.
But that’s okay, you can continue to finally acknowledge I’m right months or years later … better late than never.
How is that coming around. I said I’d have extended him for two years for $14M/2. I approach this from a mathematical perspective. I don’t feel the need to love or hate any of the players.
There are precisely two things going right for this team: their names are Xander & Raffy. From the get-go, i.e. last off-season at least…Bloom should have had those two extended and content. They are legitimate stars and you don’t let guys like that walk away for nothing…and you do not frustrate them with incompetently handled contract negotiations. It appears the ship has sailed on Xander, which is really too bad. To me, as a M’s fan, Xander has appeared to be the heart & soul of this team for nearly a decade now. And this is how he gets treated? Shameful. If Bloom blows up the Raffy negotiations and squanders the chance to sign him long term SMH …then the Red Sox will deserve basement status for the next decade. You gotta keep your stars. Ya’ll let Mookie walk…ya can’t cut loose these two as well. My two cents anyway shrugs
Well said, SOB – “shameful.”
Xander has appeared to be the heart & soul of this team for nearly a decade now.
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I agree 100%, but his stats are starting to lag. In his last 306 ABs, about a half-season, he has 7 HRs, and a 72/34 K/W, and he is not a SS anymore. He’s young enough where he could revert to his previous form.
But he is also almost 30, and his GB/FB, his K/W, his EV, and his speed are all modestly slipping. I’ll pay the guy, but I am not paying like a star.
Has Xander ever said he is willing to move from shortstop some day? If he will not say he is willing to do that one day, I think the Red Sox will definitely not resign him.
Xander will opt- out and the Red Sox will let him go. He is not a good SS. The Red Sox already have his replacement!
I watched him the other day, going to his right. It was only one play, but he looked really slow.
…and he will keep getting slower after someone signs him to whatever Boras will ask.
oh regarding christian, yes, he was/is having a decent offense year, but its not who he is, he averages between 5-8 home runs a season, trust me hes MUCH better than sandy leon could ever be, who we also traded, hes just not ‘ the guy’ at the plate, none of them right now are, last season he played 138 games and hit 6 total home runs, so on average thats about a home run a month, like i said, average, its not so much we cant understand why he was traded, its more like, why was the guy that was NEVER discussed to be traded, traded. Martinez who SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRADED, he has hit 4 home runs since June 1st.
Brutal.
i do give bloom credit for saying, we have conversations about guys but nothing happened’
hes saying-
we wanted to trade jd martinez and evoldi, nobody wanted them.
but this latest slump martinez is in is just awful, kinda surprised by now he hasnt been released , his contracts up in 2 months
Chris Sale was bound to breakdown. He’s built like a flag pole – hit the gym, son. Sox are poorly constructed, it’s that simple. What a mess. Thank heavens Bloom is “rebuilding the farm system” – hallelujah.
bloom wont be here after 2023, he was hired to build a winner on a 4 year contract in 2019 which is up at the start of 2024, if they miss the playoffs this year/dont improve next year they will simply move on, 1 thing this team doesnt do is get to attached to their GM’S/Presidents, i still never understand when everyone says’ he succeeded in tampa’ no, he really didnt, the franchise has never won a world series and doesnt ever ever get a full crowd for home games and the product is always average, also blooms actual job with tampa was international scouting( from his wiki page) so he actually had very little to do with the team itself for a day to day basis
andrew friedman was in charge, before he went to the dodgers
Chris Sale is making great money per inning pitched.
Sale $145,000,000 for five years or roughly $1,800,000 per inning over his first three years with the Red Sox (around 47 innings). That is still better than Jed Lowrie $20,000,000 for two years with the Mets. He went 0/7 with 1 walk. That is $20,000,000 for 1 walk and 0 hits over two years.
i also never liked how fat christian was, when he took batting practice on tv they showed him swinging and his stomach would always fold over and be exposed in his tank tops, it was pretty awful he was that out of shape and fat
Amanda, you may not be everyones cup of tea but I find your posts thoroughly entertaining. I bet you really dislike Pablo Sandoval. But don’t worry, I’m a fellow Sox fan, so I do too!
in the long run we’ll be better off without him, he’ll hit his 3 home runs now for houston untill the season ends then get released as he should
thanks,
i really dont make comments to be liked or to say what others need to hear, im like that in life in every part of it, i say the truth EXACTLY what needs to be said, like if im in a store and a kid is screaming, ill literally say to the mom ‘ pay more attention to your son whos acting like an idiot’
i feel we should always say exactly what we need to, thats why i was/am a trump supporter, why did he win? he said EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED TOO. I dont say what others need to hear to spare feelings, getting back to the red sox,
they are one of the worst teams in baseball, should we pretend they arent? i will admit so far Pham has been incredible, solid, great pickup that flew under the radar.
i love too that hes kinda an ass and plays with a chip on his shoulder, thats the kind we need
haha and no, i didnt like the panda, but i also didnt like his comments after he was gone, he said he regretted ever coming here and he should have stayed with the Giants
He should have
ya he should have, i honestly liked ben cherington but that move never ever made sense
What’s not to like about Sandoval?
His stats had dropped three straight years. Was maybe 50 pounds overweight. Still, who doesn’t want a declining 3B that could possibly have had a heart attack on the field?
But I doubt that was Ben. It was likely someone non-baseball type in the FO that thought they’d sell a million of his jerseys to help pay his salary. The most annoying thing was when the RS FO said his body fat was 17%. I’m probably not that low, and I’m probably 80-90 pounds lighter than Sandoval.
It was insulting to the fans.