Let’s not split hairs — yet.
Clay Buchholz is living for the present, knowing full well his future with the Boston Red Sox likely depends on how he performs in his 10th season with the organization.
“Nope,” Buchholz told The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham on Monday in Fort Myers, Fla., when asked if his contract status mattered with spring training officially beginning this week. “I can control a portion of that but not all of it. I’ll do the best I can to control my part by pitching well.
“Ultimately there’s a business side of baseball and I understand that. If the team makes a decision, I’ll pitch somewhere else. You can’t stress out about stuff like that.”
Boston exercised a $13 million club option on Buchholz earlier this offseason, which was an easy decision for Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski given the right-hander’s ceiling and the financial state of the starting pitching market. Yet, after making just 18 starts in 2015, Buchholz isn’t a sure thing going into 2016, meaning Dombrowski could face a more difficult decision with regards to the 31-year-old hurler in the coming months.
The Red Sox hold a $13.5 million club option on Buchholz for 2017. If Buchholz, a two-time All-Star, pitches up to his capabilities, exercising the option will be a no-brainer. But if Buchholz struggles or goes through another injury-plagued campaign, the Red Sox could decide it’s time to move on, whether they trade him or opt for a $500,000 buyout after the season.
Either way, Buchholz isn’t focused on any of that right now.
“I still think I have some stuff to prove before we even get into (contract extension talks),” Buchholz told the Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato at the Red Sox’s spring training complex on Monday. “Being prepared and coming out and pitching to your capabilities, starting the days your name is on the lineup card and trying not to miss one of those starts — that’s big.
“I think if it all goes well through the first half of the season and I’m healthy going into the second half, then maybe (we can discuss an extension). But I’m not going to press on that aspect of it. I’m going to try to cooperate with everybody and help this team win baseball games.”
Buchholz looked like an ace at times last season, posting a 3.26 ERA and an even better 2.68 FIP over 113 1/3 innings. He still never has made more than 29 starts or reached the 200-inning mark in a single season, though, so some durability and consistency will be key as the Red Sox look to rebound from a last-place finish and Buchholz aims to cash in financially.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
