Dodgers shockingly DFA veteran starter ahead of Clayton Kershaw's impending return

This story has been updated to accurately reflect James Paxton's bonuses.

The second James Paxton stepped onto the mound for the Dodgers in their third game against the Red Sox on Sunday night, fans had reason to believe everything was going to go up in flames. He didn't exactly prove them wrong, either, giving up a double on his very first pitch,followed by a two-run home run on his third. He managed to escape the first without incurring more damage, but it only solidified his ineffectiveness.

LA went on to win that game 9-6 thanks to home runs from six out of 10 Dodgers in the lineup that evening. Three of Boston's runs weren't Paxton's fault — rather, they fell on a struggling Evan Phillips — but the start was clearly the final straw for the Dodgers.

Per FanSided insider Robert Murray, the Dodgers will designate Paxton for assignment and take the hit on the rest of the cash they owe him for the rest of the season. With Clayton Kershaw set to return this week against the Giants, it's most likely a roster-clearing move that will send a once-dominant pitcher out of LA.

Dodgers to DFA James Paxton two starts before he's eligible for a pay raise

As much as Paxton's struggled this season, it's still a huge surprise that they would let go of one of their only starters who hasn't missed an outing this year. Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, and Bobby Miller have all fallen one way or the other, but Paxton has been a constant presence.

The move will come after Paxton's 18th start of the season, meaning he will max out the incentives that were slated to come after that particular outing (a $4 million raise per the amended contract he signed in free agency). It makes sense: the Dodgers needed to clear a spot for Kershaw, and now a team might be more inclined to add Paxton's base salary with LA on the hook for his bonuses instead. Still, with Justin Wrobleski, Landon Knack, and soon River Ryan on the active roster and having minor-league options, it's sort of astounding they would knock off Paxton and eat the money.

It's unlikely that Paxton will clear waivers and return to the Dodgers organization; his 4.43 ERA is bad but not hideous, and he's stayed healthy throughout the season. Some other starter-deficient team is bound to grab him.

Dodgers fans won't be sad to watch Paxton leave, but this raises even more questions about what the Dodgers are going to be willing to do at the trade deadline if they're willing to drop one of their starters in an already injury-plagued rotation. It seems more and more that big things are on their way to LA, and unfortunately Paxton was the first casualty, clearing cash for an active deadline.