Trade bait or not, Buchholz ready to make Red Sox season debut

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Trade bait or not, Buchholz ready to make Red Sox season debut

By RYAN S. CLARK

July 13, 2009

Posted: July 13, 2009, 8:51 PM CDT  Last updated: July 13, 2009, 9:14 PM CDT

Lumberton product Clay Buchholz is happy to pitch for the Boston Red Sox again but knows his promotion to the major leagues could be a chance to impress another team.

Buchholz, 24, will make his first major league start with the Boston Red Sox this season Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays, the same team that may trade away today's American League All-Star Game starting pitcher, Roy Halladay.

Many analysts have said Boston plans to make a move for Halladay but would need to part with Buchholz in order to execute the trade.

"With all of the Halladay talk, I'd be a little stupid to not understand what's going on," Buchholz said Monday by phone. "Over the last three years my name has been involved with a lot of trade talks, but they have not talked about getting anyone quite like Roy Halladay."

The Red Sox promoted Buchholz on Sunday from the team's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket, where he has gone 7-2 with a 2.36 earned-run average that ranks second among all Triple-A pitchers.

Buchholz was scheduled to pitch Wednesday in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Portland, Ore., but will miss the affair to prepare for the Friday start in Toronto.

Buchholz has pitched well enough in Triple-A this season to be on most major league rosters, but a Boston rotation fronted by all-stars Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield has kept Buchholz in the minors. Also in Boston's rotation are John Smoltz, Jon Lester and Brad Penny. Another starting pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka, has been on the disabled list with a strained shoulder since June 21.

"It's almost like an all-star team when you look at them on paper," Buchholz said about a rotation that has a combined 13 all-star appearances. "It's great to be on a pitching staff of that caliber."

The Blue Jays sent scouts to Buchholz's last start Sunday, according to radio station WEEI.

Buchholz's father, Skip Buchholz, said he would love for his son to stay with the Red Sox but understands a trade is possible.

"He wants to pitch in the Major Leagues, but he wants it to be in Boston," Skip said. "He's lucky enough to have one World Series ring but he wants another. Lord knows we'd love to get it in Boston but if they can get a Roy Halladay, they are going to trade him whether he wants to go or not."

Clay Buchholz said that he is not distracted by the Halladay trade talk.

"I am going to throw strike one and go from there," said Clay, who is winless in two decisions against Toronto. "For the Red Sox to call me up Friday shows they have faith in me. I expect to have a lot of fun."