Red Sox to activate James Paxton off the injured list, additional roster moves
The Red Sox signed left-hander James Paxton on December 1, 2021 and after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and other nagging injuries, after missing all of last season and the beginning of 2023, he will finally join the 26-man roster.
Manager Alex Cora met with the media on Saturday afternoon and announced Paxton would join the team in Atlanta. Cora confirmed that he plans on using the lefty in the rotation and did not rule out a six man rotation.
The southpaw made his final rehab start on Friday night for the WooSox. Paxton tossed five innings, giving up two hits, two earned runs, walked five and struck out four batters.
The 34-year-old struggled in the first inning throwing 36 pitches, 20 for strikes and walked two.
Paxton struggled with his breaking pitches during his outing, meanwhile his fastball maintained velocity all outing.
“The count got up there in the first (inning) and we were going to push him as far as we could. He ended up throwing five innings, I actually thought he threw great, he didn’t have his breaking ball,” said WooSox manager Chad Tracy following Friday night’s win.
“To his credit, he didn’t stop using it (breaking ball), that’s what he’s here for, I think he was struggling with it in between starts, but he just had trouble getting feel for his breaking ball,” added Tracy.
Boston heads to Atlanta for a quick two game series following the three game set with the Phillies. The Red Sox will then return home to Fenway Park next weekend to face the struggling Cardinals.
Zack Littell added to the 26-man roster
The Red Sox officially added right-handed reliever Zack Littell to the 26-man roster, optioning reliever Kaleb Ort to the WooSox.
Boston also transferred outfielder Adam Duvall to the 60 day injured list.
Littell was acquired by the Rangers on Friday for cash considerations.
The new right-hander’s contract with the Rangers contained an upward mobility clause requiring the club to trade him or promote him to the majors if another club was willing to add him to the MLB roster, reports Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
The 27-year-old has major league experience with both the Twins and Giants and owns a career 4.08 ERA in 145 major league games.
He will wear No. 52 for the Red Sox.
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