The Boston Red Sox continue to stockpile pitchers as reclamation projects, with their latest addition being veteran right-hander and longtime Dodger Walker Buehler. Buehler, who shined in the postseason to offset a lackluster regular season, follows a familiar path for Boston. This approach is reminiscent of when the team signed Nathan Eovaldi after his stellar playoff performance, ultimately getting 73 starts from him over four years.
Carla St. Rose-Rein’s memoir, Land of Broken Toys, serves as a fitting metaphor for Buehler’s situation — another name in a long line of pitchers attempting to recover their form. Buehler showed just enough last season and in the playoffs to entice Red Sox management into another high-risk, high-reward gamble, a strategy that has historically tilted toward risk.
The Red Sox have also added Michael Fulmer, a former Rookie of the Year, who is on the mend from Tommy John surgery. Joining him is Liam Hendriks, signed to a hefty “show-me” deal as he works his way back to full strength, potentially positioning himself as Boston’s closer of the future.
This trend extends further, with the team previously signing James Paxton while he recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2022 and more recently acquiring former Angels starter Patrick Sandoval, who is likely sidelined until the second half of the upcoming season.
The Walker Buehler signing follows an unnecessary recent trend of Red Sox reclamation projects
What drives the Red Sox to pursue reclamation projects? Is it a cautious mindset, stemming from a fear of wasting money on potential disappointments? After all, not every acquisition turns out like David Price.
In the past, the Red Sox displayed creativity with contracts, such as John Lackey’s deal, which included an additional year at the MLB minimum salary if he underwent Tommy John surgery—a clause that would be unthinkable in today’s game.
Walker Buehler might follow a path similar to Luis Tiant. Tiant, who had a Hall of Fame-caliber career, started with Cleveland, where he won 20 games in 1968 before losing 20 in 1969. His career took a rocky turn with a trade to Minnesota, a release, and a brief stint with the Braves before finding his stride with the Red Sox. After struggling in 1971 (1-7, 4.85 ERA), the Red Sox took a gamble by keeping him, which ultimately paid off. Is this kind of bold, long-term thinking part of the Red Sox’s DNA, passed down through decades in hopes of discovering the next Tiant?
The Red Sox recently missed out on Max Fried, who signed with the Yankees, leading them to pivot to a trade with the White Sox for Garrett Crochet (a member of the 2022 Tommy John surgery class) and several notable prospects. While money can be replenished, top prospects are harder to replace—making the deal a smart move.
Meanwhile, Corbin Burnes remains an option, with Boston’s payroll offering ample flexibility. The question becomes whether they’re willing to take the plunge or avoid further risks—unless, of course, Burnes also ends up needing Tommy John surgery by June.
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