Walker Buehler Moved to Red Sox Bullpen Amid Struggles, Signed $21M Contract in MLB FA

The Boston Red Sox have removed starting pitcher Walker Buehler from the rotation, manager Alex Cora told reporters Friday.

Buehler said of the move: "To be frank, if I wasn't so f-----g miserable trying to get people out every five days, I don't think I'd react positively at all to this. It's kind of a good sign of where I'm at mentally that I'm trying to find an opportunity or a bright spot in this for myself and our team."

Chris Cotillo of MassLive previously reported Thursday that Boston was considering the move.

Buehler, who signed a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Red Sox in free agency last offseason, has gone 7-7 with a 5.40 ERA (1.56 WHIP) over 22 starts.

Buehler broke into the bigs with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and remained with the organization through the 2024 campaign. He enjoyed a great four-year stretch from 2018-2021, going 39-13 with a 2.82 ERA over 95 starts while striking out 620 batters in 564.0 innings (9.9 K/9 rate). He made two All-Star games and even finished fourth in the NL Cy Young race in 2021.

Unfortunately, Buehler encountered serious arm troubles in 2022. A flexor strain forced him out of the rotation in June, and doctors also removed a bone spur from his right elbow, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Then in August of that year, Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time.

Buehler missed all of 2023 and returned in 2024, but he struggled in the regular season, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA (1.55 WHIP) over 16 starts.

Buehler did fare better in the run to a World Series title, though, posting a 3.60 ERA over four appearances (three starts). The right-hander did have a tough opening start (six earned runs over five innings against the San Diego Padres) but proceeded to throw 10 shutout frames over three appearances, including a save to shut the door on the New York Yankees in the Fall Classic-deciding Game 5.

After the season, Buehler signed with the Red Sox, but it hasn't panned out in Boston. In particular, Buehler has encountered trouble with his command, walking 54 batters in 110 innings (including 18 in his last five).

Perhaps a move to the bullpen works out for Buehler, who was a sensational pitcher at his best with the Dodgers.

In the meantime, the Red Sox need to figure out how to fill Buehler's spot in the rotation. When asked who would take the ball on Monday, Cora said the team didn't know yet. Until then, the Red Sox have three more road games at the New York Yankees before heading to Baltimore to face the Orioles.