What Makes Red Sox Starter Well-Suited To Be Early Season X-Factor

Walker Buehler’s signing may get overshadowed by the ace addition of Garrett Crochet for the Red Sox.

That’s understandable, but his impact for Boston, particularly to start the 2025 season, cannot be understated.

Buehler’s one-year deal could be great for the Red Sox for just 2025 or even beyond. He’s not the flame-thrower that stood up to Boston in the 2018 World Series, but he’s a champion for a reason and his postseason adjustments are back on display this spring.

The Red Sox starter went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts this spring with 11 strikeouts in 10 innings. He looked the part again Tuesday in Boston’s lone spring training meeting against the New York Yankees. Buehler tossed five innings with just one earned run allowed with no walks and four strikeouts.

Crochet is an All-Star at the top of the rotation. Tanner Houck follows with the chance to build on an All-Star season of his own. Injuries to Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford only highlight Buehler’s role in the rotation.

The Red Sox have an adult, a champion, a competitor and a leader in Buehler. He’s not a Cy Young contender in 2025, but he’ll write the consequential start of the story himself as to what’s in store for the latest installment of the Red Sox.