Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler is predicted to sign a deal with the San Diego Padres in free agency this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter explained why the right-hander is a good fit for the Friars ahead of 2026.
“The Padres brought back Michael King on a reasonable three-year, $75 million deal, but they still have one hole to plug in the starting rotation that was previously occupied by Dylan Cease,” Reuter writes.
“They have not been shy about taking on reclamation projects or relievers transitioning into starting roles, and buying low on Walker Buehler could provide some excellent value.”
If Buehler were to join the Padres this winter, he’d slot in the backend of the starting rotation alongside Nick Pivetta, Michael King, Joe Musgrove, and Randy Vasquez.
Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (21) celebrates after beating the New York Yankees in game four to win the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium.Why Did the Red Sox Release Walker Buehler?
Ahead of the 2025 season, Buehler signed a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Red Sox. His performance on the east coast was underwhelming as he produced a 5.45 ERA across 112.1 innings. After making 22 starts for the Red Sox, manager Alex Cora announced Buehler would be making the move to the bullpen.
Not long after, Buehler was released in August by the Red Sox in order to clear a roster spot for top pitching prospect Payton Tolle.
Buehler then signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and faced the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. He did not make an appearance for the NL powerhouse.
At the end of the 2025 season, Buehler became a free agent.
When Did Walker Buehler Leave the Dodgers?
Buehler spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Dodgers. The right-hander was one of the few homegrown talents to remain with the organization for nearly a decade.
Buehler had two All-Star seasons donning Dodger blue in 2019 and 2021, the latter campaign included his career-best ERA (2.47).
The 2024 season was an interesting one for the Dodgers fan favorite as he returned from his second Tommy John surgery in May. He struggled throughout the regular season with a 5.38 ERA over 26 starts; however, injuries propelled Buehler to the Dodgers rotation for the playoffs.
Buehler was one of three starting pitchers in the rotation, alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty. The right-hander played a key role for the Dodgers’ World Series run as he tossed nine scoreless innings in his final two outings and earned the first postseason save of his career in Game 5.
Following the 2024 World Series, Buehler entered free agency and didn’t take the Dodgers’ one-year, $20 million offer that offseason.
Now, there’s a chance Buehler will join an NL West rival.
LA Baseball Report
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