Dodgers’ Walker Buehler to Sign $21.05 Million Deal With AL Rival: Report
The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost World Series hero Walker Buehler to the Boston Red Sox, according to several reports Monday morning.
Buehler and the Red Sox are reportedly in agreement on a one-year, $21.05 million contract.
The deal is subject to a physical and includes incentives that could increase its total value, per Russell Dorsey of Yahoo! Sports.
Buehler, 30, was one of the most intriguing free agents this offseason. Known as one of the top starting pitchers in the game from 2018 to 2021, he faced challenges after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2022. Upon returning to the Dodgers, he posted a 5.38 ERA across 16 starts for the worst seasons in his career.
However, he showed up in the postseason securing the final out of Game 5 against the New York Yankees.
It’s an interesting deal for Buehler consider the price tag matches the Qualifying Offer that the Dodgers opted not to give him. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal had previously reported that Los Angeles “did not want to force the issue with Buehler.”
“With all the money the Dodgers are spending, why didn’t they just extend a qualifying offer to free-agent right-hander Walker Buehler,” questioned Rosenthal. “In part because Buehler likely would have said yes to the one-year, $21.05 million arrangement — and perhaps not all that happily.”
“The qualifying offer would have damaged Buehler in the market, leaving him with almost no choice but to accept,” Rosenthal added. “The Dodgers, as a team that will pay the luxury tax, only would have received a pick after the fourth round if he rejected,” wrote Rosenthal. “This way, Buehler can negotiate a multiyear deal with the team of his choosing. Conceivably, that team could be the Dodgers. But other teams might value Buehler more.”
Once the Dodgers agreed to a five-year deal with left-hander Blake Snell, the writing was on the wall for Buehler. There was simply no future for him in Los Angeles.
Now, he joins a Red Sox rotation that has been in rebuild mode. This offseason, Boston acquired Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in a blockbuster deal and then agreed to terms with free agent Patrick Sandoval. The Red Sox will also have right-handers Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Lucas Giolito in the mix, with Giolito also working his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Buehler’s standout season came in 2021, following his key role in helping the Dodgers secure their first World Series title since 1988. That year, he posted a 16-4 record with a 2.47 ERA over 207.2 innings, tallying 212 strikeouts against 52 walks. His performance earned him a fourth-place finish in a competitive NL Cy Young race.
Boston would love to have that version of Buehler as he represents a new team for the first time in professional career.
More news: Walker Buehler Would Have Accepted Qualifying Offer From Dodgers: Report
Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-MLB
la mgmt.: as with “pride night” ufkdup
Sad to see Buehler leaving the Dodgers.
47-22 W-L, 3.27 ERA, 713.2 IP, 754 SO, 12.2 WAR.
And he’s a big game pitcher…not many of those out there.
Come on la mgmt. now let’s get Teoscar signed, you offered Soto 600m and Teo only wants 70m, hey do the math. Keep stalling and we won’t be able to do a back 2 back WS.
He understands the business and it was out of respect for him that the Dodgers didn’t offer a QO. This allowed him to sign elsewhere. With a one year contract, if he does well he will be a free agent again and the Dodgers could then offer him the contract he wishes he could have gotten this year. Very sad to see him go. He worked so hard to come back and poured every ounce he had left to bring a championship to the team.
It’s really the best for both, Buehler and the Dodgers, as he gets to prove he has gained a full health status on another’s dime, and the Dodgers don’t get stuck with a multi-year deal if he suffers another setback. One full year of health and quality pitching will set him up for a possible return, maybe.
I concur, however after 2 TJ’s his arm is damaged goods. Durability is questionable. Although I liked his mentality and determination.
This just shows either your bias or lack of understanding. Shohei Ohtani has had 2 TJ surgeries as well, and LA signed him and his “arm is damaged goods” to $700M. A lot to pay for a DH, so they definitely are counting on him pitching as well. Buehler finally – FINALLY – was healthy and we saw what he could do at the end of the season and in the highest pressure of situations in the playoffs.
Buehler also said he would have signed with a QO from LA to do exactly what you suggest. {rove it for a year and then go from there. Kershaw declined his player option, yet they will bring him back and let Buehler walk? I hate this move.
This is a mistake by the Dodgers. World Series record — 3 starts, 1 relief appearance, ERA 0.47. For a one-year contract it would be worth it, even if just for the post-season potential, even if he would not make 20+ starts as the 6th starter, given all the talent on the team [probably at least 6 starters ahead of him by May and more later in the season] and his post-surgery performance in the regular season 2024.. Also, they will miss the clubhouse positives, whereas now this is sort of a downer for the clubhouse. How will the players feel about this, given what Buehler did for the team in game 7 of the World Series 2024? This is a short sided decision, ignoring the character side of the game, the intangibles, not to have given him the QO and signed him.