Red Sox Underwhelming Offseason Addition Lands on ‘All-Overpaid Team’

The Boston Red Sox had an active offseason by making several signings and trades to help improve their roster. And for the most part, it has panned out in their favor. Boston is in the thick of the American League playoff picture and has their eyes geared towards playing in October.

Some offseason moves included trading for Garrett Crochet, which has worked out so well for Boston, as Crochet is having a career season. They also added Alex Bregman on an extension that he will likely opt out following this season, and took a flyer on starter Walker Buehler, who just helped the Dodgers win the World Series.

Red Sox Pitcher Walker Buehler Has Been Underwhelming

After signing a one-year deal worth $21 million, the Boston Red Sox had hoped that Walker Buehler would regain some of his old form when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers and could post excellent strikeout numbers. Instead, he’s 7-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 100 innings and has just 75 strikeouts.

After having a solid MLB playoffs in 2024, Buehler showed flashes of regaining his old form, especially when he came out of the bullpen in game five of the World Series and got the official save to crown the Dodgers as champions. That is likely what got him the lucrative one-year contract, because his numbers in 2024 weren’t excellent either, after a nearly two-year hiatus from a second Tommy John Surgery.

In 2024, Buehler posted a 5.38 ERA in 75.1 innings with the Dodgers and just 64 strikeouts. Does this mean that the Red Sox should have known Walker Buehler wouldn’t be suitable for an entire season? Maybe, but again, they took a flyer on him, and he’s been underwhelming. The issue now lies with what they will do with him in the future.

He still has a spot in the rotation, but do the Red Sox feel comfortable running him out there in a playoff game, where he has always elevated his level of play? Buehler will likely test the free agent market after this season, but he must finish the 2025 campaign strong if he wants to receive anything near a $21 million contract.

Walker Buehler Lands on the ‘All-Overpaid Team’

In a recent Bleacher Report article that names an overpaid player for each position, it is Walker Buehler who is one of the selections for starting pitcher:

“Buehler has tallied three quality starts in his last five appearances. Has he actually turned a corner, though? The 3.21 ERA during that stretch looks swell, but the 5.57 FIP stemming from 14 walks and 14 strikeouts over the course of 28 innings suggests he’s just a luckier version of the Buehler who had a 6.25 ERA through his first 15 starts. For the sake of Boston’s postseason hopes, that good luck better continue.”