Red Sox Exercise 2017 Option On Clay Buchholz
BOSTON (CBS) -- Prepare for more frustration next season, Red Sox fans: Clay Buchholz will be back in 2017.
The Red Sox have picked up the right-hander's option for the 2017 season, the team announced on Thursday.
Buchholz went 8-10 with a 4.78 ERA over 37 appearances for Boston in 2016, splitting his time between the rotation and the bullpen. He was demoted to the pen early in the season and went 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 16 appearances, holding opposing hitters to a .198 average. He made his way back to the rotation amid a series of injury and made 21 starts in total, finishing his season with a 6-8 record and a 5.01 ERA as a starter.
Buchholz was impressive over the final months of the season, boasting a 5-1 record and 2.80 ERA from July 27. He was tagged with the loss in Game 3 of Boston's American League Division Series against the Indians at Fenway Park, allowing two earned runs in 4.0 innings.
Buchholz, 32, is the longest-tenured member of the Boston pitching staff.
The Red Sox also announced they have declined their 2017 contract option on catcher Ryan Hanigan, who will now become a free agent.
David Ortiz's 2017 option was also exercised on Thursday, but the team described that as a "formality" in their release, as Ortiz is still expected to retire.
