Walker Buehler, signed by the Boston Red Sox to lengthen their rotation and hopefully provide the big-game playoff heroics that marked his career, was released by the club Aug. 29 as they aim to rework their rotation down the stretch in the American League playoff chase.
Buehler, 31, was signed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract but never found his footing pitching for the Red Sox, failing to complete five innings in nine of his 22 starts and giving up four or more runs in eight of them. Boston recently demoted Buehler to the bullpen, where he made one appearance, and the club has ridden the dominant trio of Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito to the top of the AL wild card standings.
MLB PLAYOFF PICTURE: Wild card standings, where things stand entering Friday
But with swingman Richard Fitts on the injured list and no off day relief until Sept. 4, the club opted to release Buehler now and promote their top pitching prospect, Payton Tolle, who makes his debut at Fenway Park against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes. Tolle, 22, struck out 13 batters per nine innings over three minor league stops in this, his first professional season. He was picked in the second round of the 2024 draft.
