Phillies acquire Clay Buchholz from Red Sox

The Phillies have acquired veteran right-hander Clay Buchholz from the Red Sox for minor-league second baseman Josh Tobias, according to FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman.

Philadelphia will take on the remaining $13.5 million on Buchholz’s contract for next season, giving Boston salary relief.

The Red Sox acquired lefty Chris Sale at the Winter Meetings and have seemingly been trying to trade Buchholz since. The addition of Sale resulted in an overcrowded Boston starting rotation.

Buchholz, 32, struggled with the Red Sox last season, posting a 4.78 ERA and 5.06 FIP over 139.1 innings. However, he thrived in 2015, pitching to a 3.26 ERA and 2.68 FIP over 113.1 innings.

Boston exercised Buchholz’s $13.5 million option for next season, which the Phillies will now be responsible for. Buchholz is a stop-gap piece for Philadelphia because he will be a free agent after 2017.

Tobias was Philadelphia’s 10th round draft pick in 2015. He hit .304 over 93 games in Single-A last season, but was not ranked among the club’s top 30 prospects.