Pitching Pursuit: Dodgers, Braves Chase Buehler in…

The Los Angeles Dodgers are still in the early stages of navigating free agency, but have a clear need for starting pitching as the likes of Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Jack Flaherty are no longer under contract.

Kershaw has made it clear he’ll re-sign with the Dodgers after declining a player option for 2025, and Flaherty made it clear his preference is to return as well.

Where matters stand with Buehler is less known.

A return to the Dodgers is certainly on the table, and even without placing the one-year qualifying offer on him, they’re not out on having Buehler remain in Los Angeles, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post:

LA considered the qualifying offer for Walker Buehler and is talking to him about a possible return.

In an appearance on MLB Network, Jon Morosi detailed the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs having interest in Buehler as well:

“Now, I just talked about potentially the Braves being involved in Adames, they also have some interest, I’m told, in Walker Buehler. Think about their pitching staff right now. Max Fried, free agent. Charlie Morton, free agent. Spencer Strider, still coming back from elbow surgery. So for all these reasons, Walker Buehler, who we just saw shining in the postseason, the Braves are close to home for him. He’s got Kentucky roots, pitched at Vanderbilt, it’s a nice fit for him. I’d also mention the Chicago Cubs being a possibility for Walker Buehler.”

Buehler’s numbers as a whole in 2024 were jaded, as he struggled to find himself and a formula that worked. But a switch flipped in the postseason, and adrenaline and feel for the game came back.

Buehler stepped up in October, again cementing himself as one of the game’s top big-game pitchers. Hurling the final out of the World Series against the New York Yankees etched his name in Dodgers history and served as a fitting moment in a pivotal free agent year.

The Dodgers could sorely use a Buehler that was seen in the postseason, a stabilizing force in the middle of a rotation that’s projected again to be one of baseball’s best.

Projections for Walker Buehler’s contract

There have been varying levels to what type of contract Buehler could receive in free agency. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel had him around three-years, $54 million, but that seemed steep for what his production may warrant.

Others have Buehler around one or two years, with a $15 million average annual value (AAV). His market is shaky, as there are only a few starts in the postseason to look at as reason for optimism. However it shakes out, Buehler’s return to the Dodgers would continue on what could be a fun next chapter to his career.