From Hero to Zero: Dodgers Stunning Decision to Deny Qualifying Offer Revealed
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 and are already gearing up for 2025. However, they did not make an initial attempt to keep one of their key players around.
The Dodgers could not have won the World Series without the contributions of Walker Buehler. However, they did not extend him a qualifying offer by the deadline. The Athletics’ Ken Rosenthal revealed that the Dodgers “did not want to force the issue with Buehler.” The qualifying offer would have been a one-year, $21.05 million deal.
“With all the money the Dodgers are spending, why didn’t they just extend a qualifying offer to free-agent right-hander Walker Buehler,” questioned Rosenthal. “In part because Buehler likely would have said yes to the one-year, $21.05 million arrangement — and perhaps not all that happily.”
Buehler had the worst regular season of his career. His 5.38 ERA across 16 starts left many questioning why the Dodgers kept on putting him out there. However, their rotation was decimated by injuries. Buhler ended the year on a high note with a strong postseason. His final two starts spanned nine shutout innings and 11 strikeouts., He also got the World Series title-clinching save on one day of rest.
“The qualifying offer would have damaged Buehler in the market, leaving him with almost no choice but to accept. The Dodgers, as a team that will pay the luxury tax, only would have received a pick after the fourth round if he rejected,” wrote Rosenthal. “This way, Buehler can negotiate a multiyear deal with the team of his choosing. Conceivably, that team could be the Dodgers. But other teams might value Buehler more.”
The $21.05 million would likely have been more than what Buehler will earn in terms of AAV in free agency. The Dodgers could still keep him, but they just signed Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million deal as well.
