The Boston Red Sox are moving struggling right-hander Walker Buehler from the starting rotation to the bullpen, manager Alex Cora announced Friday.
“It’s going to be his new role,” Cora said before the team’s series against the New York Yankees. “We’ll figure out how it goes, maybe one inning, multiple innings. Whatever it is, we don’t know yet.”
The decision comes amid a difficult first season in Boston for the two-time All-Star. In 22 starts, Buehler has posted a 7-7 record with a 5.40 ERA, allowing a career-worst 21 home runs and issuing a career-high 4.4 walks per nine innings.
After a solid 4-1 start with a 4.28 ERA, Buehler’s performance has declined sharply. Over his last 16 outings, he is 3-6 with a 6.37 ERA. His struggles were evident in his most recent start Wednesday against the Orioles, where he lasted just four innings and threw 75 pitches. It was the ninth time this season he failed to complete five innings.
“It’s obviously disappointing,” Buehler said. “It’s the first time in my career that I’ve been in a situation like that, but… it’s probably the right thing for our group and it gives me an opportunity to kind of reset in some ways.”
Buehler’s scheduled start on Monday in Baltimore will be taken by another pitcher, though the Red Sox have not yet named a replacement. Right-hander Richard Fitts, who is on the major league roster, and left-hander Kyle Harrison, currently in Triple-A, are considered options.
Despite Buehler’s struggles, which included a two-week stint on the injured list in May with shoulder bursitis, Cora expressed confidence in the veteran. “He’s been very frustrated with the way he has pitched,” Cora said. “I still believe in him. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
The Red Sox signed Buehler to a one-year, $21.05 million contract in December after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2021 but missed the entire 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
This marks Buehler’s first full-time move to the bullpen in his professional career, with his only prior relief experience consisting of eight appearances as a rookie in 2017.
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