Red Sox Reportedly Showing 'Strong Interest' In Reunion With Veteran After Impressive Season

It sounds like there could be a reunion coming in Boston with an impressive veteran

The Boston Red Sox likely will make at least a few moves in the not-so-distant future.

Now that former Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Red Sox need to pivot and look elsewhere to improve the club. Boston's biggest roster hole is in the starting rotation. 

The Red Sox clearly know this and have been linked to every top-tier starter available both in free agency, and the trade market. Boston needs to bring in multiple starters, though. The Red Sox need to land a top starter like Jordan Montgomery but also need a No. 3 or No. 4 hurler to shore up the rotation.

One player the club reportedly is showing "strong interest" in is a reunion with lefty James Paxton, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford.

"Per source, Red Sox showing strong interest in bringing back James Paxton," Bradford said.

Paxton has spent the last two seasons with Boston but missed the 2022 campaign due to injury. He returned to the mound in 2023 and made just 19 starts, but did show some flashes of his old self. 

There was a solid stretch in 2023 where Paxton arguably was the Red Sox's best starting pitcher, but an injury ended his season early and hurt overall numbers. He finished the season with a 4.50 ERA across 96 innings pitched.

Paxton may not be the biggest name on the market, but he could be a very solid No. 3 or No. 4 hurler for the Red Sox with upside. He has a career 3.69 ERA in 10 seasons and has a familiarity with the organization. 

He may not be a megastar, but Paxton could be a very solid pickup.

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