April 18, 2017

Elbow of Clay

Clay Buchholz will likely miss the rest of the season:

The $13.5 million risk on Clay Buchholz produced two starts, a 12.27 ERA, and arm surgery Tuesday. It served as a reminder for Phillies president Andy MacPhail of how fragile and expensive veteran pitchers like Buchholz are. A reminder that the Phillies, if they are to jump in the standings, must develop young pitchers.

The Phillies, MacPhail said, are batting .333 in rotation stabilizers. Jeremy Hellickson has performed well for them. But for the second straight season, a potential Phillies pitching flip became a flop. Buchholz and Charlie Morton combined to make six starts at a $22.5 million price tag.

“On the good side, none of those investments are beyond one year,” MacPhail said Tuesday. “It’s not something that’s going to materially impact our team going forward. It’s not something that’s going to alter our strategy. It’s just a living reminder of the risks you take when you get into this world.”

Buchholz underwent surgery for a torn flexor tendon in his right arm. Given Buchholz’s poor performance last season, I wonder if this injury was building for a while.

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