Wake To DL, Buchholz Up For Good?

The Red Sox have placed All-Star Tim Wakefield on the disabled list with a lower back strain. Top prospect Clay Buchholz has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket and will get the start tomorrow night in Texas against the Rangers. Buchholz made his 2009 debut on Friday against the Blue Jays in the Red Sox first game after the All-Star break. He pitched a strong 5.1-innings and got the win, the only one so far for the Sox in the second half. To me, this looks like a brief vacation for the 42-year-old Wakefield, who has not pitched since July 8. The extra rest is insurance against a late season breakdown for Wakefield, who is 11-3 in 2009. The timing of this break could hint at a possible trade of Brad Penny before the non-waiver trade deadline, which is now just ten days away. Penny is an attractive option for many smaller market teams, like the Brewers, who are in need of pitching. Because he can become a free agent after the season, Penny would not cost a team too high of a price in a trade. By bringing up Buchholz now, the Red Sox can evaluate his readiness to help the Sox win in '09. If they believe he is ready, Penny becomes expendable. If for some reason Wakefield was to be injured again or if Buchholz were to falter, Theo Epstein and the Sox would have insurance in the form of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Michael Bowden. The shuffling of pitchers still does not solve the Red Sox need for a hitter. It does not matter how strong the pitching has been, no team can win without scoring runs. If the Red Sox expect to win the 2009 World Series, they desperately need a run-producing bat for the heart of their lineup. If Epstein does move Penny, he could possibly fold in whatever prospect he gets back in a deal for a hitter such as Cleveland's Victor Martinez, Colorado's Garrett Atkins, or Washington's Nick Johnson. To land Martinez, Epstein will also have to be willing to part with a top pitching prospect, such as Bowden.