Red Sox starting pitcher plans to retire following the 2024 season
Red Sox left-hander James Paxton intends to retire after the 2024 season, according to Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast host Rob Bradford on Wednesday.
Paxton is currently on the 60-day injured list with a partial tear in his right calf muscle.
“I’m hoping we can squeak into the postseason and I can get an opportunity to pitch again. But I think after this season, I’m going to be retiring and moving on to the next chapter,” Paxton said on the podcast.
Paxton is not eligible to return to the Red Sox until the postseason. Boston is sitting four games behind the Twins for the final American League wild-card spot with just 17 games left to play.
"Obviously, I think I can still do it. I can still go out there and compete and help a team win,” Paxton said. “But I just think where my family’s at and what they need right now—they need me home. I feel the duty and responsibility to be at home with my family. And I’m looking forward to being at home with my family and spending more time with them, too.”
Paxton said during the podcast appearance that he is launching a company called “Athlete Complete” with one of his friends.
“We’re going to address mental health in sports,” Paxton said. “Mentor, help programs, build culture, and stuff like that around making mental health more of a priority.”
The 35-year-old has dealt with injuries throughout his professional career, limiting him to 177 big-league appearances over parts of 11 seasons. He missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery and returned to the mound in 2023 and pitched 96 innings with a 4.50 ERA.
Paxton left for the Dodgers in free agency last offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $7 million deal with incentives. Boston acquired Paxton from the Dodgers before the trade deadline for minor league infielder Moises Bolivar.
Overall, Paxton is 73-41 with a 3.77 ERA and tossed a no-hitter as a member of the Mariners. He also has won double-digit games in three different seasons. Paxton won a career-high 15 games with the Yankees in 2021. While with the Red Sox, Paxton is 8-6 with a 4.46 ERA with 110 strikeouts and a 1.318 WHIP in 22 starts.
