Red Sox Reportedly Plan on Keeping Walker Buehler in Starting Rotation

If Walker Buehler doesn't figure things out for the Boston Red Sox over the next few weeks, the team will have a decision to make. It might even be fair to suggest that the Red Sox should simply designate Buehler for assignment if they can't find a team willing to take him at the deadline.

Even if the Red Sox are in a position to contend for a playoff spot, there isn't much of a reason to keep Buehler on the roster at this point. He owns a 6.45 ERA and has only gotten worse as the year has gone on.

While it's been very concerning, according to a recent report from Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Boston plans to continue keeping him in the rotation. The Red Sox understand that he’s struggling, but doesn't want to do anything like moving him to the bullpen, injured list, or removing him from the roster at the moment.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler (0) throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at Angel Stadium.

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

“Boston still plans to have Buehler make his next start, as scheduled, Saturday against the Nationals in Washington, D.C.,” Cotillo wrote. “For now, the club is staying the course with the struggling righty instead of moving him to the bullpen, moving him to the injured list or removing him from the roster.”

Buehler bet on himself during the offseason, taking a one-year deal, which made sense. He looked excellent in the postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and if he had thrown the baseball like he did then for the entire season, he would’ve been in a great position to be paid.

Instead, he's been one of the more below-average pitchers in the league.