Former All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler, one of Boston’s big free-agent offseason signings, was released by the Red Sox on Friday.
In a corresponding move, the Red Sox selected the contract of left-hander Payton Tolle, 22, from Triple-A Worcester. Tolle, Boston’s No. 2 prospect as rated by MLB Pipeline, is scheduled to make his major league debut on Friday night at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Buehler was moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen a week ago. After a 4-1 start to the season followed by about a month on the injured list (shoulder inflammation), Buehler hasn’t been nearly as effective. He is 7-7 on the season with a 5.45 ERA, 84 strikeouts and a career-high 55 walks in 112 1/3 innings over 23 games (22 starts).
An All-Star in 2019 and 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Buehler signed a one-year deal in the offseason with the Red Sox that was worth a guaranteed $21.05 million plus incentives. As part of those incentives, Buehler triggered a $500,000 bonus for each of his 20th and 22nd starts, and stood to collect another $500,000 each at 24, 26 and 28 starts, according to MassLive.
He has a career record of 54-29 with a 3.56 ERA, 245 walks and 838 strikeouts in 826 innings over 154 regular-season games (144 starts) with the Dodgers (2017-24) and Red Sox.
Buehler has undergone two Tommy John surgeries during his career, and the latter one in 2022 caused him to miss the entire 2023 season and make his 2024 debut in May.
He is 4-4 with one save, a 3.04 ERA, 36 walks and 114 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings over 19 postseason games (18 starts), winning the World Series with the Dodgers in 2020 and 2024. Last October, he was the winning pitcher in Game 3 against the New York Yankees and earned the save in the deciding Game 5.
The Dodgers selected Buehler in the first round (24th overall) of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt.
Tolle is a combined 3-5 with one save, a 3.04 ERA, 23 walks and 133 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings over 20 games (18 starts) with Red Sox affiliated at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A in his lone minor league season. Boston selected Tolle in the second round of the 2024 draft out of TCU.
In other moves on Friday, Boston recalled first baseman Nick Sogard from Worcester and optioned rookie outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia to the Triple-A affiliate.
Sogard, who turns 28 on Sept. 9, batted .254 (15-for-59) in 17 games with Boston this season. Garcia, 22, was 1-for-7 in five games with the Red Sox.
