Arizona Diamondbacks: Re-sign Clay Buchholz next year?
By Jason Evans
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Clay Buchholz is out for the season. Do they bring him back in 2019?
The Arizona Diamondbacks playoff hopes are fading as we approach just two weeks to go in the season. One of the surprise contributors for them this season was Clay Buchholz, who really came out of nowhere to be a quality starting pitcher for the club. Do they try and bring him back next year?
Buchholz went 7-2 with a 2.01 ERA and a 3.2 WAR this season. After pitching just seven innings for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017, the Arizona Diamondbacks took a flier on the 34 year-old right-hander and it paid dividends.
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Buchholz has a flexor mass strain in his right arm and will undergo a PRP injection instead of having surgery and thinks he can be back for spring training next year.
For 2019, the Arizona Diamondbacks are going to have some rotation questions. Patrick Corbin is a free agent at the end of the season, and it’s entirely possible that he will not be back next season. Shelby Miller came back from Tommy John surgery, but had to be shut down again due to elbow inflammation in that surgically repaired elbow. Taijuan Walker will be coming back from Tommy John surgery next April, and as we all know, everyone’s recovery from it is different.
If Buchholz’s elbow can stay in tact and get better this off-season, there’s no reason why the Arizona Diamondbacks shouldn’t bring him back next season. He won’t cost a ton and they are going to need some arms next season behind Zack Greinke, Zack Godley and Robbie Ray.
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Matt Koch may be an option and maybe Matt Andriese can be a part of the rotation as well, but they are going to need depth and Buchholz can provide that.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will undergo a makeover this off-season, but Buchholz should be a part of the club in 2019, if healthy.