Boston Red Sox: Clay Buchholz A Wild Card Trade Chip
By Ron Juckett
With the playoff roster deadline looming, the Boston Red Sox have options regarding Clay Buchholz. Will he stay or move to another contender.
The Boston Red Sox and Clay Buchholz have a problem. They dislike each other, but really cannot break up. At least yet, anyway.
Discussions with the Miami Marlins before the non-waiver trade deadline saw neither side come close to making a deal. As the Marlins push towards a Wild Card spot in the National League, having a pitcher of Buchholz’s experience is vital to their chances. If there is a fit for the enigmatic pitcher, Miami is a good start.
If Buchholz can clear waivers, there is a decent chance the two teams will talk deal. Only one problem with that, Boston still needs him.
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When Steven Wright jammed himself into second base as a pinch-runner last weekend at Dodger Stadium—a move that reinforced in many minds in New England about John Farrell’s abilities as a manager—Buchholz was pressed back into starting service. Saturday’s go against the Arizona Diamondbacks was a mixed bag. He did not take a decision, but allowed three earned runs in 4.2 innings along with three hits and walks. Vintage Clay. A change of scenery will do him a world of good.
Yet, the Red Sox are fighting for a playoff spot. They are in the thick of the American League East fight with the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays. If that fails, they are still primed to win one of the two Wild Card slots. With a bullpen thinned by injuries and fatigue, allowing Buchholz to leave may kill whatever playoff chances the team might have.
For as bad of a starter as Buchholz has turned into, sporting a 3-9 record with an ERA of 5.91 when demoted, his 13 appearances out of the pen have been productive.
Able to go multiple innings when needed like a true middle reliever, (remember those?), he has an ERA of 3.20 and a WHIP of 1.017.
Hitters are batting .186 off him and those sure-fire homers he gives up as a starter are gone. In 19.2 innings, not one ball has left the yard, compared to the 17 surrendered in 75.2 starting frames. Maybe after all these years of ridicule from the fans and press, Buchholz has found a role he and the team can embrace.
Getting out of Boston likely salvages his career. When he is on, Buchholz can be a solid number three starter, if not a borderline two. As with the curly haired girl from poetry fame, however, when he is bad he is horrid. There is a reason he frustrates fans so much. Moving to Miami or his native Texas will clear the cobwebs out and give a new team a chance to evaluate whether activating his team option for 2017 is smart.
Although most fans want him stuffed on the next plane out of Logan, they may get that wish and regret it.