Jones: Time For Red Sox To Cut Ties With Clay Buchholz
BOSTON (CBS) -- For the first time since July 2, Clay Buchholz made his way out of the Boston bullpen on Thursday night.
Could that be his last appearance as a member of the Red Sox?
Perhaps the most telling part of Boston's confidence in Buchholz is the fact he didn't pitch Wednesday night, when starter Drew Pomeranz didn't record an out in the fourth inning and John Farrell had to use five relievers en route to an 11-7 win. Buchholz warmed up, and was a likely candidate to eat a few innings, but in the end he was not one of those five relievers Farrell called upon.
98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones says if Farrell can't go to Buchholz in that situation, it's time to part ways with the unreliable reliever.
"Farrell thought, and this is not a critique, it was better to burn out his entire bullpen than it was to use Clay Buchholz," said Jones. "If you can't use Buchholz in that spot, what good is he? Give that roster spot to someone who deserves it, someone you can trust. Clearly, you don't trust Clay Buchholz, and none of us really think he deserves it."
Jones thinks the Red Sox likely believe Buchholz can be salvaged (he has a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings as a reliever) or at least thrown into a trade. It's evident that they're worried he could come back to haunt them if they outright release him and he signs with another team in the division or AL competitor.
But Jones doesn't think that should keep them from cutting ties with the righty.
"I wouldn't worry about who he signs with. Bill Belichick wasn't worried about trading Drew Bledsoe in the division, because he knew they could beat up on him," said Jones. "I'm sure the Red Sox can beat up on Clay Buchholz."
