This past Winter Meeting, the Boston Red Sox just scored big time. The Boston Red Sox just reeled in the biggest fish on the market. In one of the biggest Winter Meeting blockbuster trade in recent history, the Boston Red Sox acquired starting pitcher Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox.
Acquiring Chris Sale meant the Boston Red Sox are loaded in the rotation. Aside from Chris Sale, the Boston Red Sox also have David Price, reigning American League (AL) Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright, Drew Pomeranz and Clay Buchholz. That's one star-studded rotation. That's also seven starters competing for five spots. Because of that, the Boston Red Sox may look at trading away one of their starting pitchers. Two names have popped up as possible trade targets for other teams. Drew Pomeranz and Clay Buchholz.
Between the two pitchers, Clay Buchholz is the one that the Boston Red Sox are pushing to trade to other teams. But according to reports, teams are more likely to be more interested in Drew Pomeranz.
According to an article from the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, the Boston Red Sox may be offering the wrong pitcher in Clay Buchholz and they would like to keep Drew Pomeranz. The reason for that is because the Boston Red Sox would like to shed off Clay Buchholz salary from their salary cap.
Clay Buchholz will earn $13.5 million next season. Other interested teams like the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners are turned off by Clay Buchholz salary because they think that's too high. They would rather prefer Drew Pomeranz who will earn $4.7 million after arbitration. As Nick Cafardo added on his article, Drew Pomeranz' low salary would make him more attractive to other teams in the trade market.
Drew Pomaranz is a pretty reliable starting pitcher. He's a reconstructed lefty who mostly relies on curve balls. The problem with Drew Pomeranz, however, is his health and durability. But given his modest salary, that's a risk teams are willing to make.
Clay Buccholz, meanwhile is wildly inconsistent. The right-handed pitcher can be great on some games, and a nightmare on other games. Chris Buccholz also has a tem option for 2017.
Given this scenario for the Boston Red Sox, it's actually a good problem to have. It's better to have a surplus of pitchers to choose from. So the Boston Red Sox are in a good position. It's either they unload one pitcher or the best option is to just stand pat and do nothing. The Boston Red Sox will figure their rotation once the season starts.
