The Boston Red Sox are dealing with a rotation problem that goes beyond Garrett Crochet. While their ace has delivered, the rest of their starters have struggled to find consistency. That’s put the team in a tough spot as they try to stay in contention.
Walker Buehler signed a one-year, $21 million deal with Boston this offseason, complete with a $25 million mutual option for 2026. Through 13 starts, he’s posting a 6.29 ERA that makes it pretty clear the Red Sox won’t be picking up that option.
On paper, those numbers don’t scream “trade candidate.” But here’s where it gets interesting.
Buehler’s resume still carries weight around the league. He’s a two-time All-Star who earned Cy Young votes during his peak years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The arm injury he sustained in 2022 has clearly affected his stuff, but teams remember what he was capable of.
More importantly, his postseason track record might be exactly what contending teams are looking for at the deadline. Buehler owns a 3.04 ERA across 18 playoff starts – the kind of October experience that’s hard to find on the trade market.
That experience showed up as recently as last year. Despite struggling through another difficult regular season, Buehler was lights-out when it mattered most. He allowed runs in just one inning across three postseason starts and even picked up a World Series-clinching save on one day’s rest.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan named Buehler as a trade candidate this week. The Red Sox have made it clear they’re not looking to sell – they’re still within striking distance of a playoff spot. But if that changes over the next few weeks, Buehler could draw interest.
The Mets Connection
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer floated the New York Mets as a potential landing spot. It’s an intriguing match when you consider what each side brings to the table.
The Mets rotation leads all of baseball in ERA this season. They’ve got the talent and depth to make a serious playoff run. What they don’t have is postseason experience in their rotation.
That’s where Buehler comes in. His October track record could provide the kind of veteran presence that makes the difference in a short series. Teams have paid premium prices for less proven commodities at the deadline.
“Adding Buehler would jack the Mets’ payroll up even higher, but ask Steve Cohen if he cares. He’s OK’d $300 million payrolls for each of the last three seasons, signaling a clear willingness to put as much money as possible into the chase for the club’s first championship in 38 years.”
The financial aspect wouldn’t be an issue for Cohen, who’s shown he’s willing to spend whatever it takes to bring a title to Queens.
Whether Boston actually makes Buehler available depends largely on where they stand come deadline time. If they’re still in the hunt, they’ll likely hold onto him and hope he can figure things out down the stretch. But if they start to fade, moving Buehler while he still has name recognition could make sense.
For teams like the Mets, it’s a calculated gamble on talent and experience over recent results. Sometimes that’s exactly what wins championships.
