BOSTON, MA: James Paxton, a left-hander for the Red Sox, told Rob Bradford of WEEI that he intends to retire following this season. The revelation was revealed by the 11-year big league veteran on Bradford's Baseball Isn't Boring podcast.
"I'm hoping for a chance to pitch again and for us to sneak into the postseason." However, I believe that after this season, I'll be retiring and starting a new chapter in my life," Paxton stated. Although he still has faith in his abilities, the 35-year-old described it as a "tough" decision and said he thinks it's time to "settle in at home."
Paxton informed Bradford that he has already begun the process of establishing a business that will deal with the mental health of sports.
Although there's a slim chance he returns to the mound this season, his playing days are probably done. Paxton was placed on the 60-day injured list last month after tearing his right calf in mid-August. He can't go back until the middle of October.
For Paxton to be able to take the mound, the Sox would need to overcome a four-game deficit in the Wild Card race and probably need to make a run into at least the ALCS.Unfortunately, injuries were a common occurrence. It was only his fifth MLB season that he attained 100 innings. When healthy, Paxton was an extremely effective pitcher, best known for a four-year run with the Mariners and Yankees toward the close of the 2010s.
Paxton, a native of British Columbia who would become go by the moniker "Big Maple," was first selected by the Blue Jays.In the 2009 draft, Toronto selected him 37th overall.
However, the parties were unable to come to an agreement on contract terms, therefore the 6'4" southpaw was returned to the draft the next year. In the fourth round, Seattle made a wise selection that would pay dividends a few seasons later.
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