Dodgers News: Walker Buehler Reveals He Was Almost Traded for Yu Darvish
On The Just Baseball Show, Dodger starter Walker Buehler revealed that the Dodgers almost swapped him directly for Yu Darvish at the 2017 MLB trade deadline.
The Dodgers are sure glad they didn’t do that trade, as Buehler has turned into an ace of the staff, of course, when he’s healthy. Following his second Tommy John surgery in his professional baseball career, Buehler can’t wait to get back on the Dodger Stadium mound.
In 2017, the Dodgers needed starting pitching to solidify their position as the best team in the Major Leagues. Darvish, while pitching for the Texas Rangers, was the best available starter. The Dodgers were in the position to go deep into the postseason, and Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman were looking for the best available starter.
Buehler hadn’t reached the Major Leagues yet, and no one knew how good he would be. In baseball, people in every front office must weigh the current needs against the future. Luckily for the Dodgers, the Rangers took minor leagues Willie Calhoun, Brandon Davis, and A.J. Alexy, leaving Buehler in Los Angeles.
For the Dodgers, Darvish had 4 wins and 3 losses with a 3.44 ERA. In the postseason before the World Series, he was wonderful and helped the Dodgers reach the World Series. However, he started the team’s Game 7 loss to the cheating Astros in the World Series.
The Dodgers promoted Buehler in September of 2017, and he didn’t look like a future Major Leaguer immediately. In 8 games, he had a 7.71 ERA.
Since then, Buehler is arguably the best Dodgers starter. If he can return in September and pitch to his lofty standards, the Dodgers will be thrilled. Buehler can help the Dodgers make the postseason and perhaps even reach the World Series. The Dodgers are definitely thankful they didn’t trade Buehler for Darvish six years back.
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