The Red Sox haven’t told righty Clay Buchholz whether they plan to exercise his option, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford writes. Buchholz’s contract calls for a $13.5MM option or a $500K buyout for 2017. The Red Sox have until five days after the World Series to decide. They also had an option on Buchholz for this past season, and by this point last year, they had already told him they planned to exercise it, Bradford notes.
Whether Boston would exercise Buchholz’s option after a disappointing season (4.78 ERA, 6.0 K/9, 3.7 BB/9) in which he lost his rotation spot has lately been a topic of speculation. Most recent reporting, though, has indicated that the Sox are leaning toward picking up the option.
That would seem to be a defensible decision, depending on how the Red Sox feel about Buchholz’s performance down the stretch. After making mechanical adjustments and taking a two-week break from appearing in games in early July, Buchholz fared well in the second half (when he had a 3.22 ERA). His struggles early in the season could perhaps be seen as related to a flexor strain that cost him the last two and a half months of an otherwise-strong 2015 campaign. He’s also only 32 and has a long record of at least modest success as a starter. Also, with a weak free agent market for starting pitching, he could potentially have trade value even if the Red Sox don’t have concrete plans for him.
No disrespect to Clay, but please don’t do it DD! He always has nice stretches and then just collapses again. We could get someone far more consistent like Bartolo Colon (I’ve had my eye on him for a while) for less money.
Lol Bartolo Colon. You had me until then
He’s probably the 2nd best starting pitcher on the market. Ripped off a 120 ERA+, which would have been 2nd to Porcello on the 2016 Sox.
He would be the Red Sox #3, behind only Porcello and Price. Why are you laughing? Who else you gonna get?
Yea, but what you’re ignoring is that Colon did that in a bigger ballpark against weaker competition. It’s nice getting to face Atlanta and Philly, but it’s a little bit different than facing the Toronto and Baltimore lineups.
Mabe pick the option and trade him for Kendrys Morales of the Royal
Morales is a free agent, and that’d be awful for Kansas City
Oh wait I’m wrong about him being an FA but still why would Kansas do that?
Yes, he is a FA.
The Sox will make a trade for a frontline pitcher.
Why?
Am i the only one who thinks picking up this option is a no-brainer?
Nope, I agree. $13.5 million for him is a steal seeing what is out there in free agency this season. Even if you pick up the option to trade him, it’s a great idea.
Pointless to pick it up to trade him. You don’t get $13m worth of return for him. He’s basically a replacement level pitcher.
What does $13m worth of return even mean, and why would you have to get it in return for him? You could pick it up, trade him for the fringeiest prospect imaginable, and it would be a smart move. Or you could pay down some of the contract and get a bettet return, so like pay down $5m or $8m and get a decent prospect in return.
If you trade him, you don’t have to pay for him, the other team does. If you get $500K worth of return on him (the buyout amount), you are breaking even. Everything else is gravy.
Nope I’m with you
Replacement level pitchers will get vastly overpaid in this market on a 1 year deal his option is a steal they pick it up if only to trade him for a reliever or minor leaguers. There isn’t a single free agent who has no issues this year hill is 36 and has never pitched as many innings as he did this past season and he still missed starts bartolo as good as he was is 44 next season and the list goes on and on kinda like that, Buchholz should not be available freely.
The Red Sox can afford him. If he’s a 4/5 he’s a slight overpay, if he’s a 3, they are ahead. They don’t need him to be top-tier. The only question is whether they want to reallocate the rotation spot and money to someone else.
Buchholt has always garnered a lot of .. well hype, and lived up to very little of it. For 13.5 mil he is probable a deal with and understanding the available FA market for starters… that being said… save there money for next years FA market and get a respectabke pen for petes sake
It honestly never mattered how much they spend as long as they get under the luxury tax in one of the next like 3 years because of the stipulations and on a 1 year deal he doesn’t prevent that.
let’s see he’s below .500 in wins with an era around 5 the past 3 years so ya you’re the only one…if our starters are healthy he’s nothing better than our #6…he needs to go we can use his spot for AAA guys to spot start
On average yes but every other year he’s done pretty well had a 3.26 era in the al east in 2015 (granted he missed alot of time but even still gave great value in short period of time) there’s alot worse ways u could spend 13 mill cough cough look at next year’s Pawtucket lineup I wouldn’t give Him away Idk if I’d keep him but he still has value if I’m the sox if nothing more than trade bait I’d do it worse case scenario your gambling on his potential.
I believe the Sox will pick up the option on Buchholz. DD will then trade prospects to Detroit for Miguel Cabrera.
The Tigers wouldn’t part with Cabrera if Dombrowski gave them Pawtucket and their roster
Nor would the Red Sox trade anything of value. Difference between Cabrera and Hanley was only about 2 wins, and Cabrera has one of the worst contracts in baseball.
If the redsox wanted him they would have to give up at least 1 top 3 prospect and maybe 2 top 10 guys. The tigers wouldn’t give up arguably the best all around right handed hitter in baseball(didn’t say anything about defense) for nothing. One day his contract will be bad but right now he’s living up to that. And who’s to say he can’t hit this way into his forties, Ortiz did it and he’s nowhere close to the hitter Cabrera is. I think a lot of teams with the financial flexibitly would jump on the opportunity to acquiring him if they believe they’re one piece from being serious contenders
Problem is that contract is so big and he plays a position that is abundant this off-season 1b dh type that hits rh he’s the best if he’s made available obviously. But seriously would u wanna pay 3 more years over for him? Idk let alone give something of value. fwiw I don’t think Detroit would look to move him either unless they were blown away. Personally believe the salary they’d try to move wouldn’t be Cabrera or Verlander
The contract is really big right now but the way FA contracts are getting bigger and bigger it’s possible that in 6 or 7 years if he’s still hitting close to the way he is now which I think is possible that his contract may actually not seem to bad. But I agree that Detroit probably has no plans to move their most marketable player unless they plan on a total rebuild which doesn’t make sense they’re a bullpen piece or two away from being a really good team assuming health and players playing up to their standards
I’d agree with all of that but that doesn’t mean clubs would be chomping @ the bit to get that contract generally clubs try to avoid getting into the larger of the two contracts if they’re both still very good
I agreee. There are only a few teams that would and could do it I would think that if they really wanted to trade him they would want the a max prospect return which would have to include the tigers paying as much as 1/4 of his contract if they really want 3 of a teams top guys
Yeah I gotta think somewhere is not living in the real world… Cabrera has seen his better days guys and he has that contract that’s well lets just say it’s stupid, and has Detroit hog tied… yeah remember the days before Gonzo and company were shipped to LA… we were hog tied… lets be smart for a change… no more pandas gentleman.. need someone that’s hungry! Not someone just wanting to get fat
Something tells me that the Braves are hoping that the Sox pass on his option. They want a couple of veteran starters and Clay is exactly the type they like.
Replacement level is what they want? Yikes, things must be really bad in Braves-land.
Veteran pitchers with upside that can hit a hot streak right around the trade deadline so they can be flipped for prospects is what the Braves want.
Well yes the Braves like something for nothing… why would that change? You think
what is exactly his problem? I don’t keep up with the sox, just a bad year or is he losing his stuff
More like missing his spots. But he really did have a much better second half.
He’s a head case… You never know what you’re going to get…. He’s good for one good stretch a year and at any point he will hit the dl for months at a time.
Control and a nickel head… dangerous combo
Buchholz is a steal as most have noted at 13.5 but he’s inconsistently head scratching pitching may lead to him having tremendous trade value if the option is picked up
$13m for a half-a-win above replacement pitcher who’s 32 is not a “steal.” Kind of the opposite of that.
Oh, I forgot: He plays for the Red Sox.
No, you forgot that there are no starting pitchers available, and if he were to become a FA, would immediately become a top 5 (or top 3) at the most valuable position in the game. I agree that $13.mil for a year of Bucholz level pitching is crazy, but that is the reality of the market right now.
Pay attention what pitching prices are right now… ask KC about Kennedy last year
Nobody is saying it’s smart but doesn’t offer the commitment that a Kennedy deal does its 1 year if he flops you owe nothing the following year if he does ok draft compensation plus the insurance from another starting pitcher which u never have enough of
Pick up the option.
Decline the option and if you want him back, you can likely get him back on a cheaper contract.
cheaper per year? probably. but I would rather have that guy on a one year deal at 13.5 than a three year at 30.
If ever there was a candidate for a 3 month contract, it is Buchholz…
Haha yeah that’s spot on… he gives the Sox fits every year… his clone is Kelly!
Considering the alternatives on both the free-agent market and the trade market, 13.5 might end up being a bargain. I mean seriously, who can Boston trade for without being fleeced of top prospects…. It’s going to be at overpay in this sellers market
After his rough start to the season I really thought that we were done with him. But after he rebounded, as he always seems to do, we have to exercise the option. You are correct in that there is nothing in free agency this winter. Buchholz has value in this market. Additionally, you can’t ignore the benefits of SP depth; Buchholz would give us 6 starters which is necessary to remain competitive.
While Buchholz is a pitcher with No. 1 potential his record screams for itself. He is an extremely fragile emotionally and most times can’t focus when a runner gets on base. His ONLY value at this stage is to pick up his option, with the aim to move him during spring training. A trade for a couple of marginal pitching prospects is about all that could be expected. A Marlins trade would benefit both clubs.
He will bring good valu at the trade deadline
Hahahahahahahahaha… #1 potential?? hahahahaha that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in my god dam life…the past 3 years he’s below .500 in wins with an era close to 5 with 2 of those years era of over 5 so please on our staff he’s a #6 MAYBE a #5 THATS IT …#1 potential?? hahahahahahahahaha dropped my phone hahahahahahahahahaha
An inconsistent starter with top of the rotation potential, but who’s lost his way and can be something of a headcase? I can see Boston cutting ties and him, and him winding up in Baltimore next season on a one year deal.
BTW, I’m an O’s fan.
And add him with Wiley and Co…..
It’s time the Sox and Buchholz part company. Best of luck to Clay. CB should find his way to Pittsburgh, some time with Ray Searage would do him well.
Pick it up, no brainer.
For those who are saying $13+ mn is too expensive, just keep in mind that it’s peanuts to this deep pocketed ownership. Would you keep Buchholz if his salary is one dollar? Money isn’t a factor here.
Frankly, I’m tired of Clay’s shtick of getting hurt yearly and his inability to stay healthy. I’d pick up his option solely to push him to another team in need of a starter. Regardless of his useful value on this club, I think it’s time to part ways.