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Red Sox Rumors: Spicy trade target, long-awaited debut, Duran guided by legend

By Cody Williams

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 25: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a double during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 25, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 25: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a double during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 25, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox, James Paxton, Lucas Giolito, Jarren Duran
Boston Red Sox, James Paxton. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

The Red Sox could be in on an elite trade target, will finally get to see a debut they’ve waited over a year for, and the secret to Jarren Duran’s breakout.

A majority of the offseason for Boston Red Sox fans, perhaps outside of the Rafael Devers extension and the hope found in signing Masataka Yoshida, was spent decrying Chaim Bloom and not feeling optimistic about the 2023 season. But after 37 games, the club is a solid 21-16, in contention for an AL Wild Card spot, and generally looking much better than expected.

It’s a long season, though, but the Red Sox appear positioned to not just weather that storm, but also get better. They have a big debut looming in the very near future, they have young players breaking out in major ways, and they could be aggressive going after one of the biggest trade targets who could be available at the deadline.

We’re breaking all of that down, so move through this venture in Red Sox rumors and news to see what the future in Boston could hold both with the players who are on the roster and at least one who could be on the roster by the end of the season.

Red Sox Rumors: James Paxton, finally, set to take the mound for Boston

Trying to reshape the rotation ahead of the ultimately disastrous 2022 season, the Red Sox inked veteran James Paxton to a potential two-year deal. As he recovered from Tommy John surgery, though, he didn’t see the field once for Boston in the first year of that contract.

That then paved the way for him to come back and be a veteran presence for the Red Sox this season after the club exercised a mutual $4 million option. However, a hamstring injury has bothered him to start the 2023 campaign, which he’s had to rehab back from.

But now it’s time to see what James Paxton gives to the Red Sox as he’s set to make his team debut on Friday, May 12 in Boston against the Cardinals, which manager Alex Cora announced on Tuesday.

Paxton hasn’t pitched since April 6, 2021 due to his litany of injuries and has just six starts — partly due to the shortened 2020 season and another injury — since the 2019 season.

Having said that, the Red Sox rotation needs help in a major way given that they are 28th in MLB in ERA (6.10) for starting pitchers on the season. They need a boost or, at the very least, more options.

Paxton had an ERA above 6.00 in six minor league appearances for his rehab this year, but he started to show more signs of progress with each outing. With that, there will be high hopes that the 34-year-old southpaw can give a big boost to the Boston pitching staff.

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