Once considered one of the top young arms in baseball, Clay Buchholz has fallen on hard times recently. The veteran has posted sub .500 record in two of the past three seasons and saw his ERA skyrocket to 4.78 this past season.
It’s in this that the Red Sox have apparently had enough. They have reportedly traded the 32-year-old Buchholz to the Philadelphia Phillies for a minor league prospect.
Source: The Phillies have traded for Clay Buchholz. Return is believed to be one player, a minor-leaguer.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) December 20, 2016
It’s a somewhat stunning turnabout for Buchholz and the Red Sox. Once a consistent force atop the team’s rotation, the former first-round pick posted a 12-1 record with a 1.74 ERA and 1.03 WHIP for the Sox’ World Series winning 2013 squad.
Since then, it’s been completely downhill for the veteran. He’s combined for a 23-28 record while pitching to a 4.60 ERA over the past three seasons. After acquiring Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox earlier in the offseason, there simply wasn’t any room for Buchholz in the Red Sox’ rotation.
The hope here for Philadelphia is that a change of scenery will do the veteran well. Though, as a rebuilding team, it’s rather interesting that the Phillies will pick up the full $13.5 million remaining on his deal for the 2017 season.
Josh Tobias is going to the Red Sox, according to a source. No cash involved; Phillies assume Buchholz's 1-year, $13.5 million deal.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) December 20, 2016
Heading to Boston in the deal is minor league infielder Josh Tobias, who was a 10th-round pick of the Phillies back in 2015.