The Boston Red Sox are officially moving on from Walker Buehler. The team announced Friday afternoon that it has released the veteran starting pitcher.
In a wave of transactions, the Red Sox also officially recalled starting pitcher Payton Tolle (who will make his big league debut Friday night) and infielder Nick Sogard, while optioning outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia back to Triple-A Worcester.
The Red Sox had signed Buehler, 31, in December with the hope that he would help solidify their rotation after rebounding from a tough 2024 regular season by pitching well in the playoffs while helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series.
It wasn't to be, though. Unfortunately, Buehler looked much more like the version of himself that struggled most of last year, too. He had a 5.45 ERA in 23 appearances (22 starts) and was recently moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen as the team looks for a better starting option with a month to go until the playoffs.
Buehler did come out of the bullpen last October to close out the ninth inning of the Dodgers' World Series-clinching Game 5 win over the Yankees, so there was perhaps some hope that he might be able to get right as a bullpen option for a Red Sox playoff run. Obviously, that won't happen now.
Buehler will now be free to sign with another team.