In a move to bolster their rotation, the Boston Red Sox have obtained left-handed pitcher James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The trade was announced on Friday, with minor league infielder Moises Bolivar heading to the Dodgers in exchange.

The Red Sox had been in pursuit of Paxton, who previously played for Boston in 2022-23, as reported by WEEI's Rob Bradford. Paxton's arrival will provide much-needed stability to Boston's rotation, which has faced some challenges this season.

Paxton's performance this year has been decent but not outstanding, with a 4.43 earned run average in 18 starts. These numbers closely resemble his 4.50 ERA during his time with the Red Sox last season. However, there are some concerning trends in Paxton's profile.

Compared to last season, Paxton's fastball velocity has dropped from an average of 95.2 mph to 93.2 mph. His strikeout rate has plummeted from 24.6% to 16.4%, and his walk rate has increased from 8% to 12.3%. Paxton has also seen a rise in average exit velocity and overall hard-hit rate.

Despite these underlying concerns, the Red Sox see value in Paxton as a back-end arm in their rotation. With the team's pitching depth thinning and several pitchers approaching career-high workloads, adding a stable veteran like Paxton is seen as a wise move.

Moreover, Paxton comes with an affordable contract, having signed a one-year deal worth $7 million, including $6 million in attainable bonuses. Nonetheless, the Red Sox will only owe him a prorated portion of the $4 million base salary for the remainder of the season, approximately $1.42 million.

This acquisition pushes the Red Sox payroll to around $180 million, just under the luxury tax threshold. With some breathing room in their budget, Boston's front office, led by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, has the flexibility to pursue further additions, including bullpen upgrades and a right-handed bat.

For the Dodgers, trading Paxton is not an indication of them selling. As the frontrunners in the NL West, Los Angeles has a strong rotation featuring returning starters Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw, along with promising young arms. The presence of these pitchers, coupled with their pursuit of another impact starting pitcher, made Paxton expendable.

In return for Paxton, the Dodgers receive 17-year-old Moises Bolivar. Although not considered a top prospect, Bolivar has shown promise in his professional debut, impressing with his performance in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League.

Bolivar, a right-handed hitter primarily stationed at third base, has slashed .270/.364/.423 with three home runs and an impressive on-base percentage. He has also demonstrated versatility by playing some innings at first base.

The trade talks between the Red Sox and Dodgers were initially reported by FanSided's Robert Murray, and ESPN's Jeff Passan confirmed the finalization of the deal. Additional details on the Dodgers' return were provided by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic and Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

With James Paxton joining their rotation, the Red Sox hope to solidify their pitching staff as they continue their quest for success this season.