Signing Walker Buehler could give the Boston Red Sox a better rotation

The Boston Red Sox went 81-81 last season, so it seems fitting that they ranked in the middle of the pack in some starting pitching categories. The Red Sox ranked 15th in innings pitched by starters with 839 2/3, and 16th with 47 wins by a starter.

In three mostly average seasons since reaching Game 6 of the 2021 ALCS, the Red Sox pitched the fourth-fewest innings by a starter in 2023 and the 10th-fewest innings in 2022.

To remedy the situation and potentially get more length out of a rotation that was respectable with a 3.81 ERA, a .236 opponents’ batting average and 109 home runs allowed, the Red Sox reportedly traded Garrett Crochet during the Winter Meetings two weeks ago The trade will sign Walker Buehler to a one-year, $21.05 million contract – the same amount as this year’s qualifying offer.

Crochet was acquired in a deal almost similar to the one for Chris Sale. Like Sale, he was acquired by the Chicago White Sox, although not after being on a team that set the MLB record for losses, and like Sale, he was acquired by talent with some team control in his contract.

Buehler was last seen celebrating on the mound at Yankee Stadium just before Halloween when he struck out former Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo to clinch the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The strikeout capped a postseason in which Buehler pitched five shutout innings in Game 3 against the Yankees and four innings in an 8-0 win over the New York Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Buehler was signed for around eight million more than Luis Severino got with the Mets as part of a trial contract. Severino was one of the worst pitchers in baseball in 2023, ending an injury-riddled tenure with the Yankees and parlaying his success with the Mets into a three-year, $67 million contract with the A’s.

Unlike Severino, Buehler is coming off a regular season in which his 5.38 ERA and 1-6 mark in 16 innings came from shaking off rust from Tommy John surgery. The surgery ended his 2022 season after 12 appearances, as Buehler posted a 4.02 ERA, possibly due to pitching pain that persisted and worsened.

Before surgery interrupted his 2022 season and cost him all of 2023, Buehler won 16 games in 2021, his 70 points good enough for a fourth-place finish in the NL Cy Young race behind Corbin Burnes.

By signing Buehler and adding Crochet, the Red Sox are gradually improving their rotation to achieve one of Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow’s goals.

In Breslow’s first offseason, he attempted to sign Jordan Montgomery, who was a late signer and had struggled with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He ended up signing James Paxton, who retired after the season, ending an injury-riddled career that limited him to 177 appearances.

The Red Sox add Crochet and Buehler after Tanner Houck, who emerged as an All-Star and an ace with 30 starts and a 3.12 ERA, had an outstanding season. Houck is among three starters to have made 30 starts, and that includes Brayan Bello, who seems to have performed consistently well against the Yankees, performing well in the final two months of last season and entering the second season of a six-year contract signed with the Spring training.

The other was Kutter Crawford, whose 16 hits and 34 home runs allowed were the most in the league. Still, Crawford showed some things, like the time he threw seven innings and required 68 pitches in Boston’s 3-0 victory over the Yankees on July 7.

Boston also has Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock returning from injuries and signing the rehabilitating Patrick Sandoval, but recent moves allow them to get back on the mound and add depth to a team that finished 13th last season Players started at least one game and 17 did so in the 2023 season and 12 started at least once in 2022.

The Red Sox won’t be favorites to win the AL East as the Yankees are coming off a 94-win season, a World Series appearance and several losing streaks following Juan Soto’s loss to the Mets. Instead, they could be better equipped to fight for a playoff spot due to a potentially improved rotation, better defense from a young core and the possible addition of another hitter like Alex Bregman, Anthony Santander or Teoscar Hernandez.