Red Sox lefty James Paxton, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year, seems to finally be healthy enough to start ramping things up.
The southpaw recently faced lived hitters and is expected to throw in a simulated game this Friday. The next step after that will be for him to start a rehab assignment, which would be followed by a return to the big league club.
Paxton’s form down the stretch will be very significant both for him and the club, regardless of where they are in the standings.
Boston signed him to a unique contract over the offseason, knowing that he was rehabbing from TJS and unlikely to contribute over a full season.
Paxton is making a $6M salary this year and then the club will have to decide whether or not to trigger two $13M options for 2023-2024 at the end of the season.
If the team declines to pick up what is effectively a two-year, $26M deal, Paxton can decide to trigger a $4M player option for 2023 or decline it and return to free agency.
Those decisions will surely depend upon what Paxton shows in the coming weeks.