returned to a big league mound for the first time since 2021, when he pitched just 1 1/3 innings with the Mariners, and remained healthy enough to make 19 starts for the Red Sox. Playing out the second season of a two-year, $10MM contract Paxton exercised a $4MM player option at the end of the 2022 season the 34-year-old lefty is slated to head back to the open market once the 2023 campaign concludes. Paxton that hed love to return to the Sox next year but hasnt yet had any discu sions on the matter with team officials. Any such conversations figure to be delayed now, of course, with the Red Sox seeking a new baseball operations leader following yesterdays dismi sal of chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. General manager Brian OHalloran remains with the team and E'Twaun Moore Jersey is pairing with a sistant GMs Eddie Romero, Raquel Ferreira and Michael Groopman to oversee matters in the short term, but the Sox also announced yesterday that OHalloran would be offered a new role within the baseball operations department. Paxtons season officially drew to a close earlier this month when Boston put him on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right knee. While there are more than 15 days remaining on the schedule, it was announced at the time of that IL placement that will be replacing Paxton in the rotation for the remainder of the year. Theres no indication that Paxtons knee is a major i sue, but he apparently needed more than a minimal absence and wont make it back to the bump this year. As such, Paxtons season drew to a close with 96 innings of 4.50 ERA ball. Thats hardly a dominant showing, but much of the damage against him came in the three short starts preceding his placement on the injured list. Paxton carried a 3.34 ERA, 26.3% strikeout rate and 6.5% walk rate through his first 16 starts (86 1/3 innings) before being tagged for 16 earned runs on 18 hits (four of them home runs) and 10 walks in a span of just 9 2/3 innings. Paxtons injury history is about as extensive as youll find among established, active pitchers. Hes had both back surgery and Tommy John surgery in the past three years alone, also mi sing varying lengths of time due to a forearm strain, a hamstring strain, knee inflammation and a flexor strain all just since the 2020 season alone. That said, his upside is notable as well. A healthy Paxton mi ses bats at a high level, limits walks and home runs, and induces grounders at a least a league-average clip. From 2016-19, he tallied 568 innings of 3.60 ERA ball highlighted by a 2.98 ERA in 24 starts during the 2017 season with Seattle. Whoever takes over baseball operations in Boston will need to addre s the rotation in some capacity this winter. Returning to the fold in 2024 will be oft-injured and a slew of le s-experienced arms like , and . Of the bunch, Bello is the only one whos had a full, productive season in the rotation. Pivetta remains under club control as well, though hell be due a raise on this years $5.35MM salary and could be non-tendered or moved in a change-of-scenery swap. Keeping Paxton would maintain some continuity and add upside to the group, but his injury history has always made him feel like a bit of a tough fit with a Boston rotation mix that features so many other question marks. Thats not to say he cant or wont be brought back in the end, but the Sox will need to add additional stability even if Paxton is re-signed. Jevon Carter Jersey