James Paxton exercises his $4 million player option, will remain with the Red Sox
Veteran left-hander James Paxton will return to the Red Sox in 2023.
Paxton exercised his $4 million club option to return to Boston, the team announced on Wednesday morning. The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox declining Paxton’s two-year, $26 million club option.
The 34-year-old did not pitch in the majors in 2022. He spent the season rehabbing back from Tommy John surgery. It appeared Paxton was on track to make his return but elbow soreness sidetracked him in May.
Paxton began to rehab with the hopes of returning in September but lat tightness ended his season. In his only rehab start, Paxton suffered a Grade 2 lat strain.
The former Yankee and Mariners southpaw has pitched only 21â…” major league innings over the last three seasons. But he was 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts for the Yankees in 2019.
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