Crimson Sox left-hander James Paxton informed reporters he was recognized with a partial tear of his proper calf muscle. The veteran southpaw acknowledged that it may sideline him for the rest of the 12 months however will nonetheless attempt to rehab to make it again earlier than the season concludes.
The Sox positioned Paxton on the 15-day injured record with a calf pressure Monday. The time period “pressure” itself, by definition, signifies there’s a diploma of stretching or tearing, so Tuesday’s announcement isn’t a complete shock. That mentioned, the truth that he’s presumably going through an absence of six-plus weeks signifies that it’s a tear of some word — the newest in a protracted line of accidents which have plagued the proficient left-hander all through his massive league profession.
Paxton, 35, spent the 2022-23 seasons in Boston. He missed the whole ’22 marketing campaign on account of Tommy John surgical procedure however returned in 2023 to pitch 96 innings of 4.50 ERA ball with a extra promising strikeout and stroll charges. The Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $7M cope with incentives that might take the contract as much as $13M. He unlocked all of these incentives earlier than being designated for task and traded to the Crimson Sox in return for minor-league infielder Moises Bolivar.
The Sox hoped Paxton would assist shore up an injury-depleted beginning rotation, but it surely’s now potential they’ll obtain solely three begins from him. Paxton notched a strong 4.09 ERA in his 11 innings following the commerce however exited his third and doubtlessly last begin after recording simply two outs. He was Boston’s lone veteran acquisition earlier than the commerce deadline, that 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 monitor document and is at present out with COVID-19. Fellow righty Josh Winckowski has made a handful of begins and will see additional motion down the stretch.
Paxton’s harm may 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 big-league starter. He’s logged a 6.46 ERA in 94 2/3 massive league innings thus far 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 state of affairs in Boston that may blow up in significantly unhealthy style if one in all Houck, Crawford or Pivetta have been to go down with an harm of word. 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 inside brace surgical procedure earlier than the 2024 marketing campaign started. Righty Garrett Whitlock had his inside brace operation again in Might. Depth arms like Chris Murphy and Bryan Mata have additionally been non-factors this season on account of harm.
The Crimson Sox at present sit in third place within the AL East regardless of a robust 62-55 document. They’re solely two video games again within the American League wild-card hunt, touchdown .001 share factors forward of the 63-56 Mariners however trailing the 65-54 Royals for the ultimate wild-card spot.
