Red Sox Hurler Non-Commital About Coming Back When Asked About Free Agency

Boston has some notable decisions to make regarding the pitching staff

Scott Neville | Sep 28, 2023

Red Sox Hurler Non-Commital About Coming Back When Asked About Free Agency /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox will be tasked with rebuilding an ailing rotation this offseason.

Brayan Bello is the only reliable starter coming back next year. They'll then have to figure out what to do with Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford -- all of whom have started for Boston but likely make more sense in the bullpen.

The first question they must answer regarding the rotation is whether to re-sign James Paxton. The 34-year-old was asked about free agency and gave an intriguing answer.

"I think I'm in a different spot this time around in free agency than I was last time," Paxton told WEEI's Rob Bradford on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast. "I'm not injured. I'm going to come in, ready to pitch right away, so that's different. Honestly in free agency who knows what's going to happen? I don't know what teams are going to come calling or what the Red Sox needs are exactly and what direction they are going in, but I'll be open to everything."

The southpaw opted into a one-year, $4 million player option last winter to remain in Boston, with a focus on getting back to who he once was. After finally getting back on the mound, he sounds unlikely to take another discount.

Paxton appears to enjoy pitching for the Red Sox but did not say anything too encouraging in this podcast interview. The veteran did reveal that there have yet to be any contract discussions but sounded open-minded.

"We'll see what happens when that time comes," Paxton said.

Paxton posted a 4.50 ERA, 101-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .250 batting average against and 1.31 WHIP in 96 innings across 19 starts.

Boston could use some durability in the rotation so Paxton might not be the best fit. He had a strong run mid-way through 2023 but ran out of gas. He both started and ended the season on the injured list -- dealing with nagging injuries -- as he's done throughout his career.

Paxton likely will sign a one-year deal as a lottery ticket for whichever team takes a chance on him.

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Published Sep 28, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu