Dodgers trade pitcher James Paxton to Red Sox for 17-year-old minor leaguer Moises Bolivar

Paxton was designated for assignment Monday, a day after pitching to a win against the Red Sox. He allowed three runs and four hits in five innings, with seven strikeouts and four walks. The 35-year-old left-hander was 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 18 starts with the Dodgers this season.

“Obviously we faced him last week and the opportunity presented itself,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said at Fenway Park before Friday’s game against the New York Yankees. “We know him. I think the fastball has been off all season, but not last week. He ended on a good note. The velocity was up.”

The 11-year veteran has pitched for Seattle, the New York Yankees, Boston and the Dodgers. Paxton is 72-40 with a 3.76 ERA in 174 career starts. He has 996 career strikeouts in 940 innings. He was signed by the Dodgers in January to a one-year deal that guaranteed $7 million with the chance to earn up to $6 million more in bonuses.

“I spoke to him this morning,” Cora said. “This is a place he understands and knows. It’s nice to have him here.”

Cora said the plan is for Paxton to join the rotation. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Bryan Mata to the 60-day IL.

“A guy with a proven track record on this team, this division,” Boston Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow said of Paxton. “Left-handed, ticked a lot of boxes for us. Went into this (trade deadline) period thinking that adding starting pitchers was important to us. If we can get something done early, which is great, then we can continue to look at other opportunities to improve the club.”

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