The Boston Red Sox have acquired a major piece in their quest to rebuild their starting rotation. According to Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports, the Red Sox and right-hander Walker Buehler have agreed to a one-year contract worth $21.05 million. The contract includes incentives and is pending an in-kind contract.
Buehler, 30, is a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the only team he played for during his seven-year career.
Buehler did not receive a qualifying offer from the Dodgers, but will essentially receive a qualifying offer from the Red Sox. After performing well this postseason, he will have the opportunity to re-enter the free agent market next winter and be able to pitch a full season healthy. https://t.co/JMZBpPmc6d
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) December 23, 2024
Buehler had a lot of success with the Dodgers during the first few years of his career. He made his first MLB start in 2018, and by the end of the year, the Dodgers had so much faith in him that he started a tiebreaker game against the Colorado Rockies in the National League West, starting in Buehler’s 6 2/3 inning. won. One-ball inning. He finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting and was selected as an All-Star in 2019.
Buehler had another great year in 2021, starting 33 games and pitching an impressive 207 2/3 innings with a 2.47 ERA. But in 2022, he ran into injury problems. After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in June 2022, the Dodgers announced in August that Buehler underwent another surgery. This time it was the dreaded Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament and flexor tendon. He missed the remainder of 2022 and all of 2023, and struggled in 2024, starting 16 games and pitching 75 1/3 innings with a 5.38 ERA.
The Red Sox have acquired a great resurgence candidate in Buehler. He will pitch for a new team for the first time in his career and will start 2025 fully healthy. This is a great opportunity for him to show what he can do on a low-risk, high-upside, one-year contract that will benefit both Buehler and the Red Sox.
