Pink Sox left-hander James Paxton tells reporters that he’s been identified with a partial tear of his proper calf muscle (X hyperlink through WEEI’s Rob Bradford). The veteran southpaw acknowledged that it might sideline him for the rest of the 12 months however will nonetheless attempt to rehab in an effort to make it again earlier than the season concludes.
The Sox positioned Paxton on the 15-day injured checklist with a calf pressure yesterday. The time period “pressure” itself, by definition, signifies there’s a diploma of stretching or tearing, so at present’s announcement isn’t a complete shock. That stated, the truth that he’s probably going through an absence of six-plus weeks signifies that it’s a tear of some observe — the most recent in an extended line of accidents which have plagued the proficient left-hander all through his large league profession.
Paxton, 35, spent the 2022-23 seasons in Boston. He missed the complete ’22 marketing campaign as a result of Tommy John surgical procedure however returned in 2023 to pitch 96 innings of 4.50 ERA ball with extra promising strikeout and stroll charges. The Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $7MM take care of incentives that might take the contract as much as $13MM. He unlocked all of these incentives earlier than being designated for project and traded to the Pink Sox in return for minor league infielder Moises Bolivar.
The Sox hoped that Paxton would assist shore up an injury-depleted beginning rotation, nevertheless it’s now doable they’ll obtain solely three begins from him. Paxton notched a stable 4.09 ERA in his 11 innings following the commerce however exited his third and doubtlessly ultimate begin after recording simply two outs. He was Boston’s lone veterean acquisition previous to the commerce deadline, which means the Sox will once more be left to depend on the quartet of Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta, with scant depth behind the group. Righty Cooper Criswell has pitched nicely however has little observe report and is presently out with Covid-19. Fellow righty Josh Winckowski has additionally made a handful of begins and will see additional motion down the stretch.
Paxton’s damage might open the door for younger Quinn Priester, whom the Sox acquired from the Pirates in change for infield prospect Nick Yorke. Priester, a former first-round decide and high prospect, has but to ascertain himself as a persistently viable large league starter. He’s logged a 6.46 ERA in 94 2/3 large league innings up to now in his younger profession, however the 23-year-old has typically fared nicely within the higher minors — an unpleasant two-game stint with the Sox’ Triple-A membership in Worcester however.
It’s a tenuous scenario in Boston — one that may blow up in significantly unhealthy trend have been one in every of Houck, Crawford or Pivetta to go down with an damage of observe. Boston traded Chris Sale to the Braves in a regrettable offseason swap that netted infielder Vaughn Grissom. He was “changed” by right-hander Lucas Giolito, who required season-ending inner brace surgical procedure earlier than the 2024 marketing campaign started. Righty Garrett Whitlock had his personal inner brace operation again in Could. Depth arms like Chris Murphy and Bryan Mata have additionally been non-factors this season as a result of damage.
The Pink Sox presently sit in third place within the AL East regardless of a powerful 62-55 report. They’re solely two video games again within the American League Wild Card hunt, touchdown .001 proportion factors forward of the 63-56 Mariners however trailing the 65-54 Royals for the ultimate Wild Card spot.
