Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

In sports, just like life, everything can change within a year. Players can easily slide from hero to zero, and value across leagues can drop in an instant.

*PREDICTION*

This is just the life of an athlete, and it can be a tough situation for players to be in at times. Veteran right-hander Walker Buehler understands this narrative all too well as he enters free agency again, and he is currently dealing with this idea following the end of the 2025 MLB season.

Last offseason, Buehler was a free agent, but he was coming off a strong performance in the playoffs. Buehler helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series, recording the final outs for the team in impressive fashion.

However, fast forward to now, and Buehler saw all sorts of struggles this past season. The veteran joined the Boston Red Sox last offseason after spending the first part of his career with Los Angeles.

Things went completely off the rails for Buehler in Boston, and he was eventually cut from the roster down the stretch of the season. Buehler made 23 appearances for the Red Sox, putting up an ERA of 5.45 over 112.1 innings of work.

Following the release from the Red Sox, the right-hander signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for the final part of the season. With Philadelphia, Buehler seemed to turn things around, even with him pitching in a small sample size.

In 13.2 innings with the Phillies, he posted an ERA of 0.66, but he never got the chance to pitch for the team in the playoffs. His free agency has been a strange one so far, with teams not knowing which version of Buehler they will get.

But the right-hander has been among the more clutch players in the postseason over his career, so there could be a team that gives him a chance. Buehler wants to keep his career going strong, but for now, it remains a mystery where he may sign this offseason.

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Walker Buehler Heads to St. Louis Cardinals

One team that could look to take a chance on Buehler is the St. Louis Cardinals, who are likely entering a rebuild for the 2026 season. However, St. Louis still needs arms for the starting rotation, or even the bullpen, which Buehler has shown a willingness to work out of lately.

St. Louis could offer Buehler a spot toward the backend of the rotation, and he could try to prove himself with this franchise. Buehler still has talent, but he just needs a place to take a chance on him.

The Cardinals could give Buehler a “prove-it” type of contract for the 226 season, and if he performs well, then he could enter back into the free agent market next winter. St. Louis always has eyes on themselves as a franchise, and this could be one of the better spots for the veteran to recoup his value.

Overall, Buehler needs to go to a team that can help maximize his skill set moving forward, and the Cardinals could do just that. St. Louis would get some extra depth for the year, while Buehler can continue playing for a team that could be somewhat sneaky in the National League Central.