Andrew Friedman Says Dodgers Still Deciding How to Temper Walker Buehler’s 2024 Workload

The Dodgers will be getting one of baseball’s best starting pitchers in 2024 without orchestrating a trade or negotiating a free agent contract: right-hander Walker Buehler.

Buehler missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from surgery on his right elbow and flexor tendon, but he is on track to be part of the Dodgers’ starting rotation this season. Pitchers rarely take on a full workload in their first full season back from such a major procedure, and there has been talk about the team possibly delaying the start of Buehler’s season.

The Dodgers are hoping Buehler will be as close to his former self as possible come October. The challenge is how to keep him fresh for the postseason in the meantime.

Apparently, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman hasn’t entirely figured out that part. On Sunday, Friedman spoke to Jim Duquette and Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. He suggested the team hasn’t decided whether to delay the start of Buehler’s season, or temper his workload during the middle months on the baseball calendar.

“Now it’s just about, what’s the prudent thing to do in terms of workload? The question is, when do we do it, how do we ease him in – whether it’s easing him in on the front end, whether it’s building up some workload and getting some fatigue on him and protecting him there in the middle, we don’t know yet. Still really confident that he’s going to be a big part of what we do this year.”

— Andrew Friedman on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM

With Buehler coming off Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers will elect to be cautious with him. They don’t want to run the risk of another injury occurring, or putting him in position to fail on the mound.

While they could use Buehler to bolster a top-heavy rotation, the Dodgers’ front office can also dictate any pitcher’s regular-season workload. The front office has built up the rotation well, and Buehler will be needed most come playoff time.

Practically from the outset of his major league career, Buehler has shown the “clutch gene” in big moments. The Dodgers could use that. Buehler will also be a free agent at the end of the year, so he will surely want to make an impact before hitting the open market.

“Walker is the ultimate competitor, and so much of him coming back last October was kind of driven by him, even with it not being the safest thing in the world from his standpoint. But it just speaks to who he is, and his willingness to help us win. There were some outings last September on this rehab path where he looked like vintage Walker Buehler. And just for us, trying to look out for his next 10, 12 years, it wasn’t smart to keep dialing up the intensity, and to add that. He’s had a pretty normal offseason. We’re really confident he’s going to be in a really good spot.”

— Andrew Friedman on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM

Buehler, 29, is 46-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 115 games (106 starts) from 2017-22. His return ought to be a welcome sight for fans, especially if he can get back to being the dominant pitcher he was prior to his injury.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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