After being surprisingly assigned to the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitcher James Paxton is on his way to the Boston Red Sox.
Paxton, 35, goes to Boston in exchange for minor league infielder Moises Bolivar, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He has an 8-2 record so far this season for the Dodgers, but with a 4.48 ERA and a National League-leading 48 walks (tied with Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds) in 89 1/3 innings.
The veteran left-hander returns to the Red Sox after playing for them last season. In 19 starts, he compiled a 4.50 ERA and a 7–5 record with 101 strikeouts in 96 innings. He will provide depth to a starting rotation led by All-Star Tanner Houck that can now go seven deep.
Bolívar is an extremely young prospect, playing for the Red Sox’s Dominican League club at age 17. He is batting .270 with a .787 OPS, six doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI in 132 plate appearances.
The Red Sox currently sit in third place in the AL East at 54-47, 6 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles, and are one game out of the AL’s final wild card playoff spot.
The best teams in the AL and NL make a deal
The Orioles were involved in another notable deal made on Friday, sending outfielder Austin Hays to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache.
After an All-Star season last year, Hays is struggling with a .255 average and .711 OPS with 13 doubles. But as a right-handed hitter, he could fit right in in a center platoon with Brandon Marsh in Philadelphia. Against left-handed pitching this season, Hays is batting .328 with an .894 OPS.
For Baltimore, Domínguez should strengthen a bullpen that sits in the middle of the AL with a 3.75 ERA. The right-hander has 40 strikeouts in 36 innings in 38 games. Pache provides field depth behind Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser, especially defensively. At the plate, he is putting up a .202 batting average and .557 OPS in 118 plate appearances.
