Fortunately, the two rotations are in completely different places and Buchholz was likely further from being a part of the 2017 rotation than Arroyo was the 2006 rotation.I don't love trading away depth and the money for "in season flexibility" mantra DD trotted out yesterday, but I think the griping about losing pitching assurance is heavily colored by what I think may be the most comparable trade Bronson Arroyo.
The difference ?
Arroyo was under control for multiple years when he was unceremoniously dumped. He also was a 200ip given in contrast to Clay's Dr. Ace / Mr. injured Gopher Ball roller coaster Red Sox career.
I thank Clay for pitching injured to help us get the ring in 2013 and for what a pleasure he was to watch when he was on. His stuff is great when in a groove. I do think the NL and getting away from the East will help. I don't know how much fastball he has left. I also doubt he's going to bring back some type of haul at the trade deadline as a rental.
Arroyo was traded in spring training because he was viewed as extraneous due to the foolish belief that they already had a full rotation (Beckett, Schilling, Wakefield, Wells, and Clement), a sixth starter with options that they could "stash" in the pen or Pawtucket (Papelbon), and more highly-regarded reserves coming in the pipeline (Lester and eventually Buchholz). Then they made Papelbon the closer two days into the season and Wells made just two starts in the first four months of the season, which left them no choice but to use the likes of Lenny Dinardo, David Pauley, Kyle Snyder and Jason Johnson in the fifth spot...not to mention rush Lester up when Clement went down.
Trading Arroyo was ill conceived because three of the other five starters were 39+ and Clement didn't finish 2005 healthy. Trading Buchholz makes sense because they have six (not five) more starters heading into the season, none of whom are all that old, three of whom are legitimate Cy Young contenders, and one of whom is likely going to be relegated to the bullpen despite making the All Star game last year.