8:09pm: The Red Sox have also announced that they’ve picked up their 2017 option on David Ortiz. The move is a formality, since Ortiz is expected to retire.
2:30pm: Drellich also writes that the Red Sox plan to pick up Clay Buchholz’s $13.5MM club option, and Heyman tweeted that the team will indeed do so. Buchholz had a $500K buyout on the option, so the decision boiled down to a $13MM call for Boston. (The team has announced both option decisions.)
Buchholz, who turned 32 in August, struggled with the Red Sox for much of the season and at one point lost his spot in the starting rotation. However, despite a brief demotion to the bullpen, Buchholz finished the year quite strongly, logging a 3.14 ERA in 28 2/3 innings in September and a 2.86 ERA over his final 44 innings. He’s also a season removed from 113 1/3 innings of 3.26 ERA ball that came with outstanding peripherals. Given the lack of quality options on the free-agent market and the fact that Buchholz generated summer trade interest even before his strong finish to the year, there was an argument to exercise Buchholz’s option even if he’s traded elsewhere this offseason, as MLBTR detailed a couple of weeks ago.
1:56pm: The Red Sox have declined catcher Ryan Hanigan’s $3.75MM option for 2017 in favor of an $800K buyout, according to FanRag’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald reported earlier Thursday that the Red Sox were likely to let Hanigan go.
Hanigan joined the Red Sox in December 2014 in a trade that sent third baseman Will Middlebrooks to the Padres, with whom Hanigan never actually played a game. The Red Sox didn’t lose much in dealing Middlebrooks, but Hanigan was still a disappointment in Boston. After establishing himself as a defensively capable backstop with solid offensive skills in Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, Hanigan batted just .219/.298/.294 in two years and 319 plate appearances with the Red Sox. He finished third among Boston’s catchers this year in PAs (113), trailing Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez, and posted an unusable .171/.230/.238 line. That was poor enough for Boston to wave goodbye to Hanigan, who will try to hook on elsewhere in free agency.
In addition to Leon and Vazquez, the Red Sox also have Blake Swihart as a potential catcher option for next season. The outfield/backstop missed most of this year with an ankle injury. Alternatively, Boston could look to free agency for help, especially if it doesn’t trust Leon’s unexpected breakout.
That’s 1 down. Now the 2-fer and announce not picking up Bucholz, then resign koji, Ziegler and still have cash left from the savings.
I wouldn’t re-sign Koji. There are plenty of better options in the free agent market.
Koji is a fine option, depending on the contract…
I personally would prefer Koji over Abad who I would not tender his contract and save around 2 M on his last arbitration salary. Koji’s splits pitching against left-handed batters were even better then Abad’s. BA .139 for Koji and .153 for Abad, where both these numbers being very good for both pitchers. The difference is that Koji is more consistent and dependable than Abad and Koji is already an icon for the Red Sox.
Johnsilver’s comment on not picking up Buchholz option may at the end make lots of sense. Because, if DD does pick up Clay’s option you’ll never know what value he could get in return that could make a big impact in this year’s roster. Nevertheless, I would risk a gamble and try negotiating asap with Mike Hazen for the 2 years of Paul Goldschmidt in exchange for a package deal of Buchholz plus Travis Shaw, Sam Travis and Robby Scott who Hazen knows well and likes very much.
I normally don’t say this but that’s not enough for Goldy, he comes close to a Triple Crown every year other than this year. I’d love to see him in Boston because he would become a household name but I feel like the DBacks would need 1 or 2 blue chip prospects
I’m not a D-Backs fan, but this is no where near enough to get Goldschmidt. He is a 6+ win player and perennial MVP candidate who is signed for about 3/$35 through his peak seasons. Look at what the Rangers just gave up for 1.5 seasons of Lucroy. A realistic package would be more like 2 of Moncada/Benintendi/Devers, any 2 pitching prospects and probably another org top 25 type and I’m still not sure if AZ pulls the trigger.
If Mookie Betts had a 3/$35 contract left before becoming a free agent, what would you expect the Red Sox to get back in a trade?
I too would resign Koji but I would temper my expectations for him he’s no longer a 2013 Koji but to have him as a 6th inning type guy Idk who’d be much better especially if he’s on the cheap and at his age Idk if he’d be all that expensive any way
Buchholz’s option was already picked up
They must have picked that up today sometime.
I have to believe he will be traded.
I don’t see it and don’t buy into the argument that picking it up is fine because the market has nothing else in it either.
just because the market stinks doesn’t make it ok to pick up a half season (at best) pitcher, then give him 13.5m. That salary could have been used to shore up the back end of the BP until Carson smith returns from TJ end of next year.
they could have found virtually ANY retread starter last year capable of putting up better results than Sean O’sullivan had they really tried, even given one of thos higher guarantees, like they did with Sandy leon to persuade them.
Wasting over 13m on Bucholz may end up being the biggest flop since the Crawford deal
They say to pick it up because of the market because people feel u can pick it up and trade him. I’m one of those people as I don’t want him to ever pitch for the Sox again but want to pick where he goes and get something for him (something for nothing is better than paying 500k for nothing)
Johnsilver, I understand your argument and since DD has already made his decision to pick up Clay’s option what he should do is trade him asap to the Diamondbacks for Goldschmidt like I indicated above in order not to waste the 13.5 M in Buchholz salary. Paul would help compensate the loss of Ortiz’s offense and give the Sox a reliable 1st baseman.
Realistically if the diamondbacks are trading for a one year type guy why would they trade their best player? And Buchholz at least hashe upside even with inconsistencies while a Sean osullivan has none
First, Sean O’Sullivan is no longer with the Red Sox. Second, the Diamondbacks will not be competing any time soon. Las Vegas is already betting 100/1 in the odds of Arizona participating in 2017 World Series. They need more or less 5 years to even consider participating in a World Series just like what the Cub’s just did. By then Goldschmidt and other top players such as Greinke are going to be on their way out. Buchholz would only serve as a veteran pitcher to lead the younger ones during the rebuilding process. As for a package deal DD and Hazen could definitely agree upon a decent trade for both teams, due to Hazen’s better knowledge than even DD of the Red Sox’s players/prospects.
Buchholz has definitely an upside and a change of scenario could do wonders for him.
Vegas has little to do with how a team runs it’s organization I kinda doubt that Arizona will shop goldschmidt in the first place but if they do its for a kings ransom if Buchholz is involved it’d probably be a negative because that’d mean they are selling not in a position to acquire a one year player
You and I don’t know that. If you don’t knock on the the door you won’t know if they’ll let you in. The bottom line is if it’s not with Arizona there is 28 other teams that could use Buchholz in a trade. Just because Red Sox fans are tired of him does not mean that he necessarily is going to fail with every other team. He’s still a high upside pitcher at 32 who could surprise anyone.
lol?
José carlos I’m completely with you on Buchholz just not on if he’s of interest to Arizona if they’re selling (which trading goldschmidt would mean) as far as goldschmidt you’re right can’t hurt to ask just a gut feeling after all the moves they made last season and the way they acted in trades with the Dodgers about greinke would be shocked and scared at what it would cost to acquire
Diamondbacks will not require 5 years.
They have a franchise player, Goldschmidt.
They have a decent bounce back rotation and players in Grienke, Miller Ray, Herrman, Castillo
They have a young core of Pollock, Drury, O’brien, Haniger (maybe) and Segura, and Diaz
Yes they have made mistakes in trades (Blair, Encartie, and Swanson) made bad signings (Tomas) and (Hill)
But in all honesty I think Hazen will do wonders with the Diamondbacks, time will tell but I doubt it will take 5 years with a new manager and GM to become a contender.
add greinke to bad signings
TheMichigan, I hope your right but I really doubt it. Five years ago the Cubs had a similar core of players to what your indicating here and they took that time to develop a champion team that will be kicking ass during this next decade. The NL west division where Arizona competes is no easy ride for any team. So knowing how Hazen works he will start from scratch to rebuild a team that can be competitive and with a strong foundation to create a long term contender, first in the western division than later in the NL and this requieres serious time which is not easy to be determine now. For that reason is why I refer to the Cubs as a good example, since they were guided by Theo Epstein during this venture and who also happened to be a mentor to Mike Hazen when they worked together in the Red Sox.
Point about O’Sullivan was the Sox (along with many other teams) will sign some retread pitcher to fill out the triple A rotation. my point was what’s wrong with signing some guy either later on during the winter having a tough time, who is better than that type, or during ST that gets cut and giving him the type of money the Sox guaranteed Leon to hang around all season at pawtucket, off the 40 man roster(270k), or maybe even MLB mininum and performance bonuses if he makes the team?
Nothing says they cannot pay MORE to hide them, Andrew Miller signed a funny deal sort of like that himself when the team grabbed him from the marlins.
Sox picked up their option on Papi as well. Not that it matters.
Thanks Connorsoxfan! I was only able to find that out because you commented it! Not because it’s in the article.
I think that buch was a good idea, they need koji and give tazzawa athother chance.
Go after cespedes if he does not go back to the mets.