Red Sox release Walker Buehler putting an end to a disappointing year in Boston

The Red Sox released right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler on Friday afternoon, making room for rookie Payton Tolle ahead of his Major League debut against the Pirates at Fenway Park.

Buehler’s time in Boston comes to an end after a disappointing season where he struggled, going 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, and a 5.88 FIP in 23 games. Boston had demoted the veteran to the bullpen last week after he stumbled in his start against the Orioles at home, where he went four innings and walked four.

In his final appearance for the Red Sox, Buehler pitched in relief against the Yankees in the Bronx and allowed two runs off two hits, one homer, and one walk in 2 1/3 innings.

Boston signed Buehler this offseason to a one-year, $21.05-million deal, betting on a bounce-back season and hoping to secure a long-term deal this coming winter. That plan backfired as he simply just wasn’t good enough, owning a 6.7% strikeout rate per nine innings, which is the lowest of his career. The 31-year-old allowed 120 hits with 55 walks (4.4% per nine innings), which was also the highest of his career.

After Buehler was removed from the rotation, he called the situation “disappointing.”

"It's the first time in my career that I've been in a situation like that, but at the end of the day, the organization and, to a lesser extent, myself, kind of think it's probably the right thing for our group, and it gives me an opportunity to kind of reset in some ways,” said Buehler last week.

Buehler’s signing was a massive disappointment for Craig Breslow, who otherwise had a stellar offseason. Boston had hoped that the longtime Dodger could serve as a reliable No. 2 behind ace Garrett Crochet. Instead, he was the definition of inconsistent. He began his Red Sox career with an 8.68 ERA after his first two starts before he settled into a groove, owning a 2.59 ERA in four starts. The righty hit the injured list with bursitis in his throwing shoulder on May 2 and really wasn’t the same after that issue.

Returning just three weeks after being placed on the IL, opposing hitters smacked around Buehler over his next eight outings. He allowed 32 earned runs, 10 homers, and 23 walks in 33 1/3 innings (8.64 ERA). Buehler began to improve, pitching better over his next six starts in July and early August, but the righty continued to struggle with walks, and Boston reached their limit.

Buehler’s release feels sudden and begs the question as to whether something happened between him and the team since it was announced he was being removed from the bullpen. Alex Cora said Buehler handled the news “professionally.” The right-handed hurler also thought his time in the bullpen would not be permanent and he’d be back helping the Sox every fifth day.

“There’s some potential that the stuff sticks up and my arm learns that it can throw hard again, and I pared down the pitches and made one of them a lot better because I threw it a lot more. Sure, there’s opportunities like that,” Buehler said just a week ago. “But I’ve only been a starting pitcher one way in this league. I don’t think it’s going to help my starting career. But at the end of the day, it’s going to help our team, and hopefully, I can be some sort of valuable piece down there.”

Buehler could have earned additional bonuses had he not been removed from the rotation. The Sox would have paid him $500,000 for his 20th and 22nd starts, and then another $500,000 for reaching each of 24, 26, and 28 starts, per the terms of his contract.

Boston’s rotation moving forward features Crochet, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, and Dustin May. Tolle could carve himself a spot as the No. 5 starter the rest of the way with a good showing against the Pirates on Friday night. With the Sox’ rotation depth being tested, Tolle might be around longer no matter how he pitches. Cooper Criswell and Richard Fitts are both on the injured list, and if the Sox wanted to make another change, they could summon Kyle Harrison from Triple-A Worcester. He has been with the WooSox since the Father’s Day trade that sent him, Jordan Hicks, and others to the Red Sox.

Since 2019, all of Buehler’s regular-season outings in the big leagues have come as a starter (outside of his last appearance with the Red Sox). He has experience pitching out of the bullpen when he was promoted to the majors in 2017, pitching eight games, and pitching one game in relief in 2018. Buehler was nails in the postseason for the Dodgers last year as they captured the World Series championship. He pitched the final inning, earning the save in Game 5 against the Yankees, striking out Alex Verdugo to end the game.

Buehler returned from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and was underwhelming in the regular season, recording a 5.38 ERA. He will now get a chance to hook on with another team making a playoff push over the next month. Last week, he vowed that he would rebuild his value down the stretch for the offseason, but will now do that in another market.

“That’ll be in the back of my mind, that it’s in there, and that I can be a successful starting pitcher. Right now, I’m just not,” Buehler said. “All in all, I think we’re all in agreement that this is the best thing for our team, and I’m good with that.

“For now, the offseason is going to be based around getting back to who I am as a starting pitcher. The next couple months will be about trying to help our team win.”

Boston also optioned outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia to Triple-A Worcester and recalled infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard. 

The 22-year-old Garcia is ranked as the No. 78 prospect, according to Baseball America. He made his Major League debut last Friday against the Yankees. While in the bigs, he went 1-for-7 with two walks and five strikeouts in five games for Boston. Garcia doubled in the Red Sox’ win over the Orioles on Thursday night to lead off the fifth inning.