Arizona Diamondbacks taking a chance on Clay Buchholz

A team can never have enough pitching depth. The Arizona Diamondbacks added to that depth with their signing of Clay Buchholz.

As injuries continue to pile up around the league this season, a team can never have enough pitching depth. That holds true for the Arizona Diamondbacks as well, as starters Robbie Ray and Taijuan Walker have been placed on the disabled list. Kris Medlen was a great story as he made a start on Friday, but he was battered for seven runs on nine hits and four walks in just four innings.

With that need for depth in mind, the Diamondbacks have signed Clay Buchholz to a minor league deal. Buchholz had just been released by the Royals in a somewhat surprising move, especially considering their own problems with the starting rotation.

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Buchholz himself has not exactly been a bastion of health throughout his major league career, having made 20 starts just four times in 11 years. He also has pitched in over 170 innings only thrice in that time, as his annual trips to the disabled list have almost been penned into the calendar. However, when on the mound, he has been a solid option, posting a lifetime 4.01 ERA and a 1.311 WHiP, striking out 904 batters in his 1175 innings.

That major league success did not translate to the minor league level during his brief time in the Royals organization. The two time All Star had a 1.13 ERA, but exhibited some issues with his command. In 16 innings, Buchholz only allowed ten hits, but he issued seven walks with nine strikeouts. The Royals themselves had concerns about his stuff as time went on, leading to the decision to cut bait as his opt out clause came due.

For now, the Diamondbacks are hoping that he can regain some of that form that he showed in years past. Should he be able to do so, or even be anything even close to the pitcher he had been, Arizona would have a quality arm in the back of the rotation. As it stands, their 3.12 ERA is the best in the National League, but there are problems in that fifth starter spot.

Next: Corbin looking to New York?

The Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping that they can catch lightning in a bottle with Clay Buchholz. If so, he could emerge as a useful depth piece going forward.