Paxton (lat) is a full participant at the beginning of Red Sox camp, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton signed with the Red Sox last offseason while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but he's yet to debut for them after suffering a Grade 2 left lat strain in August. The left-hander doesn't have any restrictions right now, though, so Boston is planning for him to be part of their Opening Day rotation. Paxton's upside is undeniable, but he's made just six major-league starts and one rehab start since 2020.

Paxton (lat) exercised his $4 million player option for 2023 on Wednesday and will remain with the Red Sox for the upcoming season.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton remains on the 60-day injured list, so the Red Sox will have to reinstate him at some point to add him back to the 40-man roster. The veteran southpaw joined Boston on a one-year, $6 million deal last winter, but he has yet to make his Red Sox debut while he spent the past season recovering from his April 2021 Tommy John surgery and then getting shut down for good in August with a Grade 2 left lat strain. It's unclear whether Paxton will be a full participant for spring training, but if healthy, he'll likely get the chance to stake his claim to a spot in the Red Sox's Opening Day rotation. The 34-year-old Paxton owns a 3.59 ERA over 754.2 career innings, but with just six starts under his belt since the 2020 season, it's difficult to depend on him immediately recapturing the strong form he displayed prior to his Tommy John surgery.

Paxton (elbow) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left lat strain and won't return in 2022, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton made his first rehab start last week but exited the outing due to his lat injury. The southpaw will be unable to return over the final month of the season, and it's not yet clear whether he'll remain with the Red Sox next year. His contract includes a $13 million team option for 2023 or a $4 million player option, the latter of which Paxton can exercise if the team option is declined. Paxton hasn't pitched in the big leagues since early in the 2021 campaign since he underwent Tommy John surgery in April of that year.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed that Paxton (elbow) exited his rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League due to a left lat strain, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora noted that the Red Sox won't know how serious Paxton's injury is until he's evaluated over the next couple of days, but the setback could be a season-ending one for the southpaw, who was making his first rehab appearance Thursday since undergoing Tommy John surgery last April. Because he's likely to require a multi-week buildup program coming off the major elbow surgery, Paxton wasn't on track to come off the 60-day injured list until September. Even if the lat strain proves to be minor, Paxton's return date will be pushed back to some extent, and it's certainly possible that he doesn't make it back to the Red Sox before the regular season ends Oct. 5.

Paxton (elbow) was removed midway through the first inning of his first rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League after experiencing lat tightness, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pitching in a competitive game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2021, Paxton retired the two batters he faced before exiting the contest on account of another injury. Even if follow-up tests clear Paxton of a lat strain or a more serious injury, he's still likely to be shut down from throwing for at least a few days. The Red Sox already weren't counting on Paxton being ready to return from the 60-day injured list until early September, and the lat issue will likely push his potential season debut back further, if it even happens at all.

Paxton (elbow) threw two innings during a simulated game Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton has been throwing bullpens over the last few weeks, and Wednesday's throwing session marked the first time that he's faced hitters this year. The southpaw hopes that he'll be able to rejoin the Red Sox sometime in mid-August, but he'll likely require several rehab appearances before he's cleared to return.

Paxton (elbow) remains limited to throwing bullpens and has yet to resume facing live hitters, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Cotillo, Paxton suggested just under a month ago that he planned on throwing live batting practice around the All-Star break or the week after, so he could be poised to take the next step forward in his rehab from Tommy John surgery within the next few days. Paxton has previously said that he's eyeing a mid-August return, though that may be ambitious at this point since he has yet to start a minor-league rehab assignment.

Paxton (elbow) threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton has thrown a string of bullpens since early in June, and the left-hander hopes to face live batters at some point around the All-Star break. He added a mid-August return is his goal.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sunday that Paxton (elbow) is scheduled to throw two or three bullpen sessions during the upcoming week, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Cora relays that Paxton "felt great" coming out of his bullpen session Saturday -- his third since he resumed a throwing program -- the Red Sox don't plan on having the southpaw take another step forward in his rehab just yet. Instead, he'll continue ramping up the intensity of his bullpen sessions before potentially advancing to facing hitters the following week. Paxton, who underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-April of last year, is trending toward a second-half return from the 60-day injured list.

Paxton (elbow) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session at Fenway Park on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton is ramping up his activity, graduating from long toss to bullpen sessions over the last week. The left-hander is still multiple weeks away from rejoining the team.