The Free Agency Grind: Walker Buehler Reveals the Emotional Toll of Uncertainty

As the 2024 calendar winds to a close, Walker Buehler is among several players who remain available in free agency despite a strong market for starting pitchers.

The veteran right-hander struggled during the regular season in his return from a second Tommy John surgery. Buehler posted a 5.38 ERA with 64 strikeouts over 75.1 innings and a .289 batting average allowed.

But then came the postseason, which many believe is when Buehler is at his peak. In four games (three starts), he carried a 3.60 ERA over 15 innings, earning the save in the Dodgers’ title clinching Game 5 win over the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Appearing on the “Just Baseball Show,” Buehler discussed how the World Series win gave way to a new experience for him and challenges with being a free agent.

“Obviously, the Winter Meetings were a lot different for me personally this year. You’re normally just watching to see who is going where, and to have any part of that was a little bit different. Kind of on the phone and talking to people and whatnot. I think once you get through the new year, we’re used to kind of planning, looking at leases and all that kind of stuff. If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s hard to do that.”

Buehler’s market is probably on different spectrums, as teams are in the mode of giving out two-year deals to starters with some question marks. That angle might play into Buehler’s favor, so he can capitalize on short-term gains, while also building his value.

The flip side, however, is how long the process can take and the non-baseball parts that make it a difficult period for Buehler and other free agents.

“I think the idea of it is super exciting. I think in reality, it’s pretty stressful. There’s good parts and bad parts, obviously. I’m not, like, freaking out. But you also want to know what you’re doing and whatnot.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Blake Snell to a long-term contract, signaling an aggressiveness mindset to bolster their starting rotation. Buehler being in those plans might be a backend thought for the front office, but that door isn’t closed completely.

Buehler’s projected stuff is much about a team bottling up what he flashed in the playoffs and if he can replicate it. He noted that pitching in the cold helped his approach, also boosting the metrics of his fastball and secondary offerings.

Should the Dodgers re-sign Walker Buehler?

The difficult portion of this is how much is another team willing to offer Buehler that the Dodgers won’t be inclined to match. They refrained from placing the qualifying offer on him, clearing him of any draft pick compensation attached.

If the Dodgers are looking to add a backend starter with Buehler’s upside, they could go with a short-term contract that would potentially reset his market should he outperform the deal.