Red Sox could cut ties with $21 million offseason addition at trade deadline

The Boston Red Sox season has not gone according to plan. They have already traded their franchise player and may have no choice but to part ways with one of their offseason additions at the trade deadline.

The Red Sox signed Walker Buehler to a $21 million deal in the offseason on the heels of a strong postseason. However, he has struggled with the Red Sox and has a $25 million mutual option for next year. At this rate, there is no chance the Red Sox will exercise that option. In fact, they may be willing to trade Buehler for whatever return they can get.

Buehler has a 6.45 ERA in 14 starts, which is actually worse than the 5.38 ERA he had in 16 starts last year. ESPN's David Schoenfield suggested the Red Sox trade Buehler away at the trade deadline, hoping some team will take a chance on his postseason experience and success.

"He's 5-6 with a 6.45 ERA, after going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA last season with the Dodgers," wrote Schoenfield. "He did have two good -- albeit short -- starts in the postseason for L.A., so that's what a team would be trading for, banking on big-game Buehler delivering some clutch performances. Some team might take the chance, although the Red Sox might have to eat some of his remaining salary."

Buehler is a two-time World Series champion. His postseason ERA is 3.04 in 19 games. He had a 3.60 ERA last postseason, and all six of his earned runs came in one inning against the San Diego Padres. Outside of that, he pitched 14 clean innings.

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He had scoreless starts against the New York Mets and New York Yankees. He also picked up the World Series clinching save on one day of rest. A contender may be willing to take a chance on him for some depth and potentially another strong postseason.