Red Sox $21 Million All-Star to Have 'Plenty of Suitors' Ahead of Trade Deadline

Walker Buehler’s one-year, $21 million deal with the Boston Red Sox is quite possibly the worst free agent signing of the offseason. The former All-Star was supposed to anchor the Red Sox’s pitching rotation while helping the team contend in a competitive AL East division. Instead, Buehler is one of the worst pitchers in baseball, and his starts have become a never-ending nightmare for Boston. 

In 13 games, Buehler has accumulated a 6.29 ERA – the fourth-highest among starters with at least 60 innings pitched, and his negative -0.4 WAR is the third-worst at the position. While Boston may look internally to replace Buehler, the looming trade deadline brings further questions about his future. 

It is hard to fathom the Red Sox being capable of dealing Buehler, but according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kyle McDaniel, he is a top 30 trade candidate who will garner plenty of interest this season. 

“If the Red Sox do punt on this year, Buehler will have plenty of suitors in spite of his mediocre numbers this season," wrote Passan and McDaniel. "His postseason bona fides are obvious, and his sinker and slider have both played this season despite his fastball and curveball getting tagged. Starter, reliever, whatever: October is Buehler's time.”

Buehler’s postseason numbers make him an intriguing deadline acquisition, as Passan and McDaniel point out. Since 2018, Buehler has appeared in 19 postseason games, totaling a 4-4 record with a 3.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a World Series-clinching save against the New York Yankees. His October success could be a reason a team makes a trade for Buehler or be a reason Boston keeps him past the deadline. 

Passan and McDaniel give Buehler a 35 percent chance of being traded with potential suitors, including the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, and a reunion with the Los Angeles Dodgers.