Red Sox begin their 2024 trade deadline movement with a reunion

The Red Sox have indeed picked a lane ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, as Craig Breslow's club 'bought' on Friday afternoon with a trade for the Dodgers' James Paxton. Boston's move for Paxton comes four days after the 6-foot-4 lefty was designated for assignment by the Dodgers, and amid a 2024 campaign that featured an 8-2 record and 4.43 ERA in 18 starts in LA. In addition to Paxton's eight wins, the 35-year-old also fanned 64 batters and held batters to a .246 batting average against, though his 48 walks were tied for the third-most in the MLB at the time of his DFA. In what will be a one-for-one swap between the sides, the Red Sox will send infield prospect Moises Bolivar to the Dodgers in exchange for Paxton. The 17-year-old Bolivar hit three home runs and posted a .270 average in 31 games in the Dominican Summer League. The trade for Paxton will bring about a reunion for both sides, as Paxton spent the 2023 season with Boston, and posted a 7-5 record over a 19-start run with the Sox. There was even a point where Paxton was Boston's top starter, with a 3-0 record and 1.74 ERA in five starts in June 2023. Paxton will rejoin a Red Sox rotation headlined by Tanner Houck and featuring supporting cast members such as Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford. The Red Sox enter the weekend one game out of the third and final wild card spot in the American League, and are 6.5 games out of first place in the American League East.