View: https://twitter.com/russ_dorsey1/status/1871200568527450170?s=46
He always made the most sense from a cost perspective, QO, and upside.
He always made the most sense from a cost perspective, QO, and upside.
Red Sox sign Walker Buehler
- Thread starter SouthernBoSox
- Start date
Plenty of reasons to be skeptical about him (coming back from TJS and struggling until the playoffs; struggles even before that after the substance crack down), but on a 1-year deal there's tons of upside here without any long term risk. Will be interesting to see how the rotation shakes out now, with Crochet, Houck, Bello, Crawford, Giolito, and Buehler all probably deserving of spots if they're healthy.
Wow. That's not a huge contract.
My first thought is that this looks like a notch in the belt for Breslow, Bailey & Co. Hard to convince a free agent pitcher that a year in Fenway will recuperate his value before he hits the market again.
It's great if that's our reputation. Tampa's had that reputation, but I wonder if there's a second narrative developing about Tampa's development leading to injuries.
My first thought is that this looks like a notch in the belt for Breslow, Bailey & Co. Hard to convince a free agent pitcher that a year in Fenway will recuperate his value before he hits the market again.
It's great if that's our reputation. Tampa's had that reputation, but I wonder if there's a second narrative developing about Tampa's development leading to injuries.
Love it. He’s someone I wanted them to take a flier on. Totally worth a shot on a one year deal. Well done, Craig.
100%
1 year deals with upside starting pitchers are literally never a bad move.
In a world where 37 year old Alex Cobb gets 1/15. 1/21 for Buehler feels like a real win.
Also like adding a real vet with a ton of postseason experience to a really young staff.
It’s worth adding, that because he has yet to be extended a QO, the Red Sox will get draft capital back once he leaves with free agency if he has a strong year. Same set up as Sandoval.
I like this move by Breslow. Crochet-Houck-Buehler-Bello-Giolito sounds like a 88-90 win caliber rotation. A motivated Buehler to prove he's healthy and worthy of a multi-year deal is a win win for both sides. With Sandoval, Fitts, and Priester all here as depth pieces, it would seemingly open up Kutter Crawford to move to a multi-inning bullpen role or a piece in a trade for something else they need on the roster.
I said that the Sandoval move couldn't be the last move for the rotation. Now we go. Come on Craig, go get an impact bat and another high leverage reliever and call it an offseason. Couldn't be more excited.
I said that the Sandoval move couldn't be the last move for the rotation. Now we go. Come on Craig, go get an impact bat and another high leverage reliever and call it an offseason. Couldn't be more excited.
Interesting move. Like the player a lot, pretty meh on the deal (I wanted someone with more than a year of control.) So I'm hoping the contract is more complex with some team options of some manner.
I'm not nearly the Crawford fan that some on here are (as in I think he's good but I also think he's a 4/5 starter and that is dirt cheap and that's all he's ever going to be - which is fine and valuable, to be clear), but I admittedly don't get the idea of bumping him from the rotation for a one year player.
That said, if you're going to do it, do it for someone with this amount of upside (Scherzer, Verlander, Buehler).
Really hope there is some function in there for the Sox to extend the deal (understanding you can't force the players to sign). Much better than the Giolito contract as it is reported as of now (I loathe the "one year but you can make it two if you hurt / get suck" type contracts.
However:
Crochet, Houck, Buehler, Bello and Giolito (Crawford will probably still get about 20 starts) is a WC1 contending rotation and looks a lot better in a potential playoff series than it did yesterday
I'm not nearly the Crawford fan that some on here are (as in I think he's good but I also think he's a 4/5 starter and that is dirt cheap and that's all he's ever going to be - which is fine and valuable, to be clear), but I admittedly don't get the idea of bumping him from the rotation for a one year player.
That said, if you're going to do it, do it for someone with this amount of upside (Scherzer, Verlander, Buehler).
Really hope there is some function in there for the Sox to extend the deal (understanding you can't force the players to sign). Much better than the Giolito contract as it is reported as of now (I loathe the "one year but you can make it two if you hurt / get suck" type contracts.
However:
Crochet, Houck, Buehler, Bello and Giolito (Crawford will probably still get about 20 starts) is a WC1 contending rotation and looks a lot better in a potential playoff series than it did yesterday
Well the Red Sox certainly have a type.
Walker Buehler when healthy is exceptionally good. If he is healthy you can QO him on the way out. Is Giolito still hurt?
Walker Buehler when healthy is exceptionally good. If he is healthy you can QO him on the way out. Is Giolito still hurt?
LOVE this! According to MLB Network Buehler received a couple of multi-year offers but he chose to bet on himself having a solid season which would raise his value in the next offseason. He will be super motivated thus upcoming season. Thanks Santa!!
Well, the pitchers will actually need to preform for that to work out, so let's see how it goes...
Some of his drop off appears to coincide with the policing of sticky stuff, and I don't really think his post season results trump his less than inspiring return in the regular season, but I still like this signing better than throwing a lot of money at Burnes.
I'd be very nervous relying on Buehler enough to trade Crawford right now. He was flat out awful the whole regular season this year.
Is there a max number of invitees to Spring training each team is alloted? I never thought about it until right now and each winter we see the announcement of a minor league plaer getting an invite to spring training?
I wonder if having 8 potentional starters going into this years spring training, it allows for a more cautious approach for those coming off of TJ or other injuries? Give the pitching whisperers more time with the athletes off the mound facing live hitting.
I wonder if having 8 potentional starters going into this years spring training, it allows for a more cautious approach for those coming off of TJ or other injuries? Give the pitching whisperers more time with the athletes off the mound facing live hitting.
I think this move. They needed to add pitching and they’re doing that. If they can find a couple of righty bats (one of them being able to backup Wong) and I will be very happy with the offseason. The team is better than they were last year.
I was hoping for a veteran starter who could be counted on to lock down a rotation spot or, failing that, someone who could at least compete for a spot so that we’re not stuck with Fitts toeing the rubber every fifth day the first time someone gets hurt.
This deal is somewhere in between. After two TJ surgeries, Buehler may well be cooked; he’ll be worse than useless if he’s as bad in 2025 as he was in 2024. So he’s not the veteran to lock down a rotation spot that I’d hoped for. On the other hand, he has a lot more upside than anyone I thought we’d get to come here and compete for a spot.
This deal is somewhere in between. After two TJ surgeries, Buehler may well be cooked; he’ll be worse than useless if he’s as bad in 2025 as he was in 2024. So he’s not the veteran to lock down a rotation spot that I’d hoped for. On the other hand, he has a lot more upside than anyone I thought we’d get to come here and compete for a spot.
I can't say that I hate it as something that MIGHT potentially pay big dividends, but ATM I see Buehler as more of a back end of the rotation guy when I was hoping for more of a top of the rotation guy. If this is it for rotation additions then I think Breslow needs to turn to finding a closer type. There are a few guys here that MAY develop into that guy, but given the club's resources I'm getting antsy about the collective pitching staff relying on guys who MAY develop into "that guy".
They should be hoarding pitching not trading it. You can never have too much pitching.
Would obviously depend on what you get back for Crawford, but yes he's expendable at this point. You have 3 other arms that are depth in Sandoval, Fitts, and Priester. Crawford could also be extremely useful in a multi inning relief role which would allow him to spot start on occasion.
I really like this move, he looked to be finally healthy in the post season. Power righty that helps extend the starting depth and also as @RedOctober3829 stated, provides the ability to move Crawford in a deal or into the pen.
I suspect there'll be more than a few people upset that we didn't give him a more financially impressive contract, like 4/$80M or something.
Rotation's in a great spot. Not sure what happens next of course but I'm now much more inclined to think Crawford is on the move in a package for a bat. Especially because I do think there's another bullpen arm coming too.
I’d be stunned if they traded Kutter with a rotation involving Giolito, Crochett, and Buehler.
I suppose it really depends on what you expect from Giolito. Last time he had an ERA under 4.88 was 2021. There is a decent chance he is worse than Crawford and Bello next year. I wouldn't be in a rush to move Crawford to make room in the rotation for him. Not like we really owe him anything either considering we paid him $19 million last year to recover from injury.
One year and no strings attached is fantastic.
If he returns to form and stats back it up, you have first crack at an extension and can offer the QO.
If he returns to form and stats back it up, you have first crack at an extension and can offer the QO.
Great move, low risk, high reward.
Now go get a catcher, trade Yoshida, get another RHB and a guy for the back end of the bullpen and I'll see you in October.
Now go get a catcher, trade Yoshida, get another RHB and a guy for the back end of the bullpen and I'll see you in October.
And just do add to this, I can see a world where, instead of signing another reliever, they move Kutter to the pen to start the year and he can be stretched out quickly if there is an injury (and there will be one)
Would be a cost effective way of adding a good right handed reliever and leave room for another acquisition like Teoscar.
The team expects Giolito to be solid. If he is, then Crawford to the pen is a waste of resources (the value of a league average starter who made 33 starts), unless they think he'll be something like Whitlock or Winckowski at their relief pitcher best.
This. There's also the risk that he spends 2025 figuring things out after his injuries and the banning of sticking stuff, getting paid handsomely by the Red Sox to make some mistakes along the way. If he does figure stuff out, he'll be gone next season to some other team that is willing to sign healthy, effectively pitchers to something more than a 1 or 2 year deal. He's probably just going to be the next guy in the line Bloom/Breslow conga line of Richards, Perez, Wacha, Paxton, Kluber, Giolito, Sandoval... Guys that 15 years from now, we'll be like "Oh yeah, that guy WAS on the Bosox for a year! I totally forgot about that!"
I would have taken him at a Manaea 3/75 deal but this is better. Obviously fits with the organization’s FA strategy. You really have to wonder if Burnes/Flaherty are going to be signing for much less than they initially thought. Possible landing spots continue to dwindle.
The goal is not to win the World Series in 2025. The goal is to win the World Series as many times as possible before we die.