Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off their World Series championship, have six free agents on the open market heading into the 2025 Major League Baseball offseason. One of those free agents is right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler.
The market for Buehler is a big question mark heading into the offseason. Buehler, 30, missed most of the last two years after rehabbing his second career Tommy John surgery, along with a few other minor surgeries on his arm/elbow.
In his first full season back in Dodger Blue, the righty struggled to get back to his pre-2022 self, ending the year with a 1-6 record, 5.38 ERA, 5.54 FIP, 1.55 WHIP, .316 BABIP, and career worsts in Hard Hit percentage (41%), strikeout percentage (18.6%), and walk percentage (8.1%).
However, Buehler, who is known for his ability to pitch in big games, was a major factor in why Los Angeles won it all in 2024. He ended the year with thirteen consecutive scoreless innings, capped off by closing out the World Series.
That run in the postseason may have given Buehler more opportunities in the free agent market, and according to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the Atlanta Braves are a team showing early interest.
Atlanta’s need for rotation reinforcements is relatively straightforward. The Braves saw Max Fried and Charlie Morton become free agents when the season ended. Spencer Strider likely won’t be ready for Opening Day as he continues rehabbing from last year’s UCL surgery. The Braves’ rotation, as currently constructed, will be headlined by likely Cy Young winner Chris Sale, converted reliever Reynaldo Lopez , and 2024 breakout rookie Spencer Schwellenbach.
The Dodgers also did not offer Buehler the $21.05 million qualifying offer, so if the Braves or any other team decides to sign him, they would not have to forfeit a draft pick.
It remains unclear what type of contract Buehler would command, but a potential one or two-year deal with multiple incentives based on health and performance would be a safe bet.
During the Dodgers World Series parade at Dodger Stadium, Buehler mentioned that he’d like to remain with the organization, and I personally find it hard the Dodgers and Andrew Friedman would let the 2015 first-round pick walk away.
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