MLB Hot Stove Rumors: Red Sox more likely to trade Buchholz than Pomeranz

A report indicates that the Red Sox would like to keep Pomeranz

The Red Sox landed lefty ace Chris Sale at the Winter Meetings to join lefty ace David Price and 2016 Cy Young winner Rick Porcello atop their rotation. Given that they already have promising youngster Eduardo Rodriguez along with Clay Buchholz and 2016 All-Stars Drew Pomeranz and Steven Wright as options in the rotation, there's definitely a glut from which the Red Sox can trade and enhance other areas of the roster.

On that front, this report from WEEI.com indicates it's likely to be Buchholz:

But, according to teams talking with the Red Sox, Dombrowski has seemingly prioritized dealing Buchholz over Pomeranz. In fact, one source suggested the Sox aren't currently showing any inclination that they want to move Pomeranz.

It makes the sense for the Red Sox. Rodriguez needs to stay in the rotation and he still has big upside. Wright is best served as a long reliever who can join the rotation if there's an injury. Pomeranz is under team control through 2018 and overall had a good year in 2016 (though he had four pretty bad starts for the Red Sox after being acquired from the San Diego Padres).

Buchholz is actually a two-time All-Star who has shown flashes of front-line stuff, but injuries and inconsistency have really done him in.

As a starter last season, Buchholz had a 5.01 ERA while posting a 3.57 ERA and 1.10 WHIP as a reliever. Regardless of role, the low strikeouts, high walks and 21 home runs allowed in 139 1/3 innings make for an ugly line overall.

There's only one year left on Buchholz's contract, sure, but it's at $13.5 million.

The Red Sox's best hope here seems to be paying about half of the deal to an NL team desperate for rotation help and dreaming on the 2013 version of Buchholz.