Blue Jays Reportedly Signing Clay Buchholz

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed free agent starting pitcher Clay Buchholz. The veteran of 11 seasons signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays today pending a physical.

Clay Bucholz spent his 2018 season playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks and posted a 2.01ERA over 98 innings pitched. He immediately gives the Blue Jays a veteran arm who has experience in the American League East having spent 9 of his 11 seasons with the Boston Red Sox.

I wrote back in December about how the Blue Jays could take a chance on Clay Buchholz, and that he could be had for the 3-5 million mark, and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports the contract could be worth up to $6 million if incentives are met.

His addition to the Blue Jays immediately calls into question of what will become of 2018 standout Ryan Borucki or newly signed veteran arm Clayton Richard. It could be that the Blue Jays will watch both pitch in spring training before making any final decisions, but there are only so many rotation spots to go around. It could be possible for Clayton to pitch out of the bullpen, but I would fully expect Ross Atkins and Blue Jays brass to have a competition for the fifth spot.

Clay Bucholz did have some injury issues in 2018 with time lost to oblique issues, but if he were to stay healthy he could be a prime trade candidate with his experience. He has pitched in both a World Series and thrown a no-hitter, so adding his experience to the mix is almost certainly a good thing for the Blue Jays.

If the right-hander is able to repeat his numbers from 2018 (7-2, 2.01ERA, 98.1IP, 81SO, 1.037WHIP, 3.0WAR) he could easily play himself into a trade as the Blue Jays will look to continue their formula of signing short term veteran arms to trade for valuable draft picks at the deadline.

This type of no risk, high reward signing is great for the Blue Jays during a rebuilding season, and should make for more interesting games at Rogers centre this season as Clay Buchholz plays pretty good there historically.

As more details become available we’ll be sure to keep you updated here at Jays Journal.