Headlines

  • Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez
  • Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff
  • Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Bobby Jenks Passes Away
  • Braves Release Alex Verdugo
  • Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Clay Buchholz: Extension Candidate

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 2, 2010 at 10:44am CDT

If the Red Sox want to extend Clay Buchholz this winter, there's one comparable pitcher they just won't be able to avoid. Whether they like it or not, Jon Lester's five-year $30MM extension will be a model of sorts for any extension discussions with Buchholz. 

Both pitch in Fenway Park against the tough American League East and both authored no-hitters early on in their respective careers. As the table below shows, Buchholz's current career numbers are similar to the ones Lester had when he signed long-term:

Buchholz
Ricky Romero and Yovani Gallardo had comparable numbers at similar stages in their careers and both signed for about $30MM over five years. The Red Sox are no doubt aware of the similarities between Lester and Buchholz and surely realize that locking up Buchholz for five years will cost about $30MM. The team has also committed to Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and John Lackey, so they may be reluctant to commit tens of millions more to a starting pitcher.

But if the Red Sox are ready to invest, Buchholz seems interested in striking a deal. Back in May, he told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he would "love" to sign with the Red Sox long-term. We should find out early in 2011 if Theo Epstein and the Red Sox front office want to commit to the right-hander and make a deal.

Share 7 Retweet 5 Send via email0

Boston Red Sox Clay Buchholz

The Red Sox’ 2011 Rotation
Main
Free Agent Stock Watch: Carl Pavano
View Comments (28)
Post a Comment

28 Comments

  1. Joshua Simpson

    15 years ago

    He’s been the most consistent pitcher for the Red Sox this year and is in the top 3 for best pitchers in the AL. The Sox HAVE to sign him to a long term contract. Buchholz and Lester are going to be one and two for the Red Sox for the next 4 years.

    Reply
  2. Dave_Gershman

    15 years ago

    Clay Bucholz is having an unbelievable year. I still say Felix wins the Cy Young…But I wonder what numbers Clay would have had if he hadn’t gotten hurt mid-season…

    Again, the Red Sox have some kind of future rotation…Beckett, Lester, Bucholz, Kelly, and Lackey…my goodness.

    I guess Lester’s contract would have to be the only comparable. I can’t think of another pitcher who got locked up with this little service time and such a good season. We’lll see.

    I actually like the Brett Anderson contract as a comparable. Maybe that could get Clay Bucholz locked up.

    Reply
    • start_wearing_purple

      15 years ago

      My bet is Hernandez doesn’t get CY Young simply because of his record, but discard win/loss he’s the best of the field right now. I was rooting for Cahill until a couple of nights ago and frankly he’s gotten so little attention. Buchholz probably won’t get it because of the lack of strikeouts and the lack of innings because he was injured for a while. If Sabathia wins it it’ll be because of his record. Lester has a had a few bad starts recently so he’s out. I’d say the best picks in the AL right now are Wilson or Price with Price being the favorite.

      And I doubt Buchholz would accept 4yrs/$12.5M. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him offered something similar to Lester’s 5yrs/$30M

      Reply
      • Dave_Gershman

        15 years ago

        It’s just hard to give it to someone with 25% less IP as you said…Which is why I also like C.J. and Price. I have a quick story for you that I know you’ll like more than most. You know my love for the A’s…So the past 3 nights I’ve been at Yankee Stadium cherring on the A’s (Yes I’ve been ridiculed by Yankee fans day in and day out) and I madeabout 10 different signs for the A’s players and especially the ones that know me. So I made one for Trevor that said “Trevor time for Cy Young”. Well he liked it, so did Ron Romanick and some other A’s relievers and players…But I obviously jinxed him. I really wanted to see an under the radar pitcher (not thrower) like him win the Cy Young but it’s not going to happen now….Especially with his IP and lack of K’s.

        Reply
        • start_wearing_purple

          15 years ago

          So you’re the jerk who jinxed him. Heh.

          I think it’s amazing how much Cahill improved this year, last year he was one of the easiest starters to get on base against… this year he has one of the lowest WHIPs in the league. If he improves again next year it’ll be hard to ignore him.

          Reply
          • Dave_Gershman

            15 years ago

            Yeah really. The whole A’s rotation is really learning how to pitch. Love them.

            Reply
          • Dave_Gershman

            15 years ago

            Yeah really. The whole A’s rotation is really learning how to pitch. Love them.

            Reply
    • Ryan

      15 years ago

      “I guess Lester’s contract would have to be the only comparable. I can’t think of another pitcher who got locked up with this little service time and such a good season.”

      Never heard of Cole Hamels, eh? And he actually won a World Series to boot.

      Reply
      • Dave_Gershman

        15 years ago

        Actually, nice comparison. You’re right.

        Reply
  3. $1529282

    15 years ago

    I’m just not sold on Buchholz whatsoever. Sure he has a nice ERA, but his FIP and xFIP are both well over a run higher than his ERA, he only strikes out 6.2/9, he doesn’t have stellar control (3.38 BB/9), and I don’t see any way he sustains a nearly-80% strand rate or 5.9% HR/FB. I think he’s more a product of his .260 BABIP and unsustainable strand and HR/FB rates than a legitimate Cy Young candidate.

    I do think he’s a good pitcher, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think he’s in the same class as Lester, and I certainly don’t think his ERA is ever going to be this good again. He can certainly be a quality MLB starter, there’s no doubt about that, but I don’t think it’s necessary to extend him this soon unless it’s for a VERY low price.

    Reply
    • jwredsox

      15 years ago

      Agree 100% as a Sox fan. Was about to post the same thing except that he can’t be a great pitcher. He added a slider to his arsenal and just needs to strike more guys out. He can’t sustain this success with a K/9 at 6.2 but he can with a K/9 closer to 8.

      Reply
  4. 04Forever

    15 years ago

    If Clay signed the same deal as Lester I can live with it. Lester is worth 10 times the contract he signed, so even if Clay isnt as good (some argue he can be better then Lester though) then the deal still is about fair. I say sign him now while you can get him on the cheap, I think he would be glad to finally know for sure he is in the teams plans

    Reply
  5. coachofall

    15 years ago

    Lester is the only sure thing of the group. Really like Bucholtz but there is no reason to lock him up this off season, let next year play out then bring out your checkbook, I think it will be worth the gamble to wait. Lackey, Beckett, aren’t going anywhere and neither are their contracts. Those were bad deals the day they were offered have a feeling that in 1 1/2 years they are going to look/feel a lot like the Mike Lowell deal

    Reply
    • Guest

      15 years ago

      I have to agree with you 100%. The Red Sox have the payroll and could easily sign Buchholz to an extension. While I agree with MorneauVP above as well, and I think some question marks still remain with Buchholz, a manageable 3 years for $20mm would make a lot of sense. Probably would be one of the better moves the Sox could make. Only problem however is they just allocated a lot of that valuable cash to extend Beckett and sign Lackey. Neither move great by any means considering the price. I’m interested to see how the Sox handle this one.

      Reply
      • start_wearing_purple

        15 years ago

        Well the Sox have Lugo and Lowell coming off the payroll for next year, that’s $21M. And this is a team that can easily spend.

        Reply
      • leberquesgue

        15 years ago

        No way they do a 3-year contract. Red Sox management has a policy for young players that a long-term deal must buy out at least one year of free agency. Of course, they’ve broken their rules in the past, but I really don’t see why they would do that here. Your suggestion makes little sense to me.

        Reply
  6. hawkny1

    15 years ago

    There is nothing unbelievable about Buchholz’s performance in 2010. He has figured out his mechanics, learned how to set hitters up, and, generally, has acquired the maturity he lacked in previous years. Her does not try to overpower batters nor does he rely on just his fastball when deep into counts. Theo will lock him up, if, for no other reason, than to make Clay feel he is a valuable a commodity to the Red Sox organization as, say, Pedroia and Youk are.

    Reply
  7. johnsilver

    15 years ago

    No reason to not use Lester’s 5/30M contract as a model. If Bucholz repeats his numbers in 2011, the price will go way up to sign him to any kind of extension and odds are that his numbers in 2011 will not decrease very substantially, it is smart business sense by a deep pocketed team not being cheap, unlike some other teams out there that let top flight starters prices get out of control and Epstein trys his best not to do that early on when even if they don’t pan out 100%, the total cost for “hits” is more than enough to make up for it.

    The key is buying out at least 1 year of FA, hopefully at least 1-2 team option years also included.

    Reply
  8. TwinsVet

    15 years ago

    Are there durability concerns with Clay, based on his Lincecum-like frame? I don’t know if I subscribe to that theory, but I’ve heard it said…

    Reply
    • rickjimbo

      15 years ago

      i kind of thought similarly earlier this year but for the past month and a half i have noticed him filling his frame out quite a bit. maybe it’s just his demeanor but he looks like he is turning into a bit of a beast. lock.him.up

      Reply
    • Evan Look

      15 years ago

      He may have the same kind of frame but the major thing is is that Clay doesn’t have the herky-jerky delivery. So most likely Clay won’t run into injuries and decreasing velocity like Lincecum (he hasn’t been injured yet but it’s really only a matter of time).

      Reply
    • jwredsox

      15 years ago

      No. Durability is a problem in the way Lincecum throws the ball, not his frame. Buchholz has a throwing motion that puts a lot less strain on his arm.

      Reply
  9. BoSoXaddict

    15 years ago

    I could see the Sox extending Buchholz in the offseason if he’d take a Lester deal. But I think it’s probably more likely that they would wait till at least the middle of next season.

    Reply
  10. woadude

    15 years ago

    The Sox can extend him by giving him the money they dont have to pay Julio Lugo anymore…it will be the wisest thing they did all year…I still scratch my head at Lackey for 5 years, he is a bad luck pitcher and I knew the signing was going to be bad, but i didnt know is ERA was going to be 4 plus, he usually loses a game by one fluky inning. and I bet Matsuzaka’s days are numbered…I bet they trade him to the Mariners for some prospects or package of some sorts, him and Ichiro would be happy together losing 100 plus games a year

    Reply
    • jwredsox

      15 years ago

      why the hell would the Sox trade Dice K? Red Sox “fans” hate the guy but tell me what is wrong with guy with a 4.19 ERA and a 3.96 FIP (3.36 ERA outside of his 1st 4 starts) making 10mil a year? Which is pretty cheap for a starter like him. Yes he walks guys, yes he can be infuriating, but that is who he is.

      Reply
    • $1529282

      15 years ago

      Why do so many people assume it’s just going to be that easy to trade Dice-K? He has massive durability problems, hasn’t lived up to his hype at all, has $20MM remaining on his deal, and has a full no-trade clause.

      Seriously, so many people just throw out the “Oh they’ll just trade Dice-K” scenario without doing any research or giving it a second thought. Matsuzaka is not going anywhere.

      Reply
      • jwredsox

        15 years ago

        Dice K isn’t going anywhere because the Sox won’t trade him. He wouldn’t have been a guy that would be hard to move (outside of NTC) at the deadline. Especially for an NL team.

        Reply
  11. jim l

    14 years ago

    rahhhh

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Recent

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Rays Sign Peter Strzelecki To Minor League Contract

    MLB Announces 2025 All-Star Rosters

    Rhys Hoskins Suffers Grade 2 Thumb Sprain, Headed To IL

    Pirates Re-Sign Yohan Ramírez, Release Peter Strzelecki

    Diamondbacks Place Pavin Smith On IL, Select Tristin English

    Details On Bryan Reynolds’ Limited No-Trade Protection

    Tigers Select PJ Poulin

    Blue Jays Place Andres Gimenez On 10-Day Injured List

    Yankees Sign Geoff Hartlieb To Major League Deal

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version