James Paxton chose family over baseball.
The Red Sox veteran left-handed starting pitcher announced his intention to retire at the end of this season on Wednesday, bringing to an end a decorated, injury-plagued 11-season career.
Paxton is currently on the 60-day disabled list with a right calf injury, and with the Red Sox four games out of a wild-card spot with 16 games remaining, his career is likely over.
The 35-year-old has a record of 73-41 with a 3.77 ERA in 177 career games.
“I'm hopeful we can get to the postseason and get an opportunity to pitch again,” Paxton said. “Baseball Isn't Boring” Podcast “But after this season I plan to retire and move on to the next chapter.”
He added, “It's been tough. Of course, I still feel like I can do it. I can still go out there and compete and help my team win. But with where my family is right now and what they need, they need me to be home. I feel an obligation and a responsibility to be home with my family. I look forward to being home with my family and spending more time with them.”
Paxton's career has been hampered by injuries that have hampered his ability to reach his potential and he has never been the ace he was during his time with the Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers.
The left-hander has never started more than 29 times in his career or pitched more than 160 ⅓ regular-season innings and has struggled to stay on the field, especially over the past five years.
Paxton went 41-26 over seven seasons with the Mariners before joining the Yankees, where he started a career-high 29 games in 2019 and posted a 15-6 record with a 3.82 ERA.
He started just five games for the Yankees in the COVID-shortened 2020 season after suffering a cyst removal surgery and a torn left flexor tendon, and just one game for the Mariners in 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery and then missing the entire 2022 season while recovering and suffering from a torn latissimus dorsi.
Paxton went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA with the Red Sox last year and is 9-3 with a 4.40 ERA this season with the Dodgers and Red Sox.
He last pitched on Aug. 11 and recorded just two outs before leaving the game with a right calf injury.
He said he's been talking about retirement all season and that he's been “taking it a little slow.”
“With everything that's happened and what's going on with my family, I've decided that baseball is over for me and it's time to settle down at home and do family things,” Paxton said.
