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Two-time All-Star Walker Buehler signed a one-year, $21.05M contract with the Red Sox in December. He is hoping to stay in Boston beyond 2025.
Buehler made his spring-training debut on Sunday, allowing one hit while tossing a pair of shutout innings. He hit a batter while notching four strikeouts as he looked to build up for the regular season.
Following the outing, he spoke with Jahmai Webster from NESN, saying that he wants to be part of the Red Sox’s future. He cited the team’s building blocks at both the major-league and minor-league levels, particularly “Big Three” prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer.
Whether or not that long-term deal comes to pass will depend on Buehler’s performance. He once was one of the better young pitchers in the game, posting a 2.89 ERA and a 0.998 WHiP in his 426.2 innings between 2019 and 2021, striking out 469 batters with 100 walks. Buehler was a two-time All-Star during that stretch, serving as another young building block for the Dodgers’ rotation.
Instead, injuries derailed Buehler’s momentum. He underwent a second Tommy John surgery in 2022, costing him the entire 2023 season. A hip injury cost Buehler another two months in 2024 as he was unable to settle in during the season. He posted a 5.38 ERA and a 1.553 WHiP in his 75.1 innings, striking out 64 batters with 28 walks.
Buehler found his way for the Dodgers when he was needed most. He allowed just five hits and four walks in his 10 shutout innings between the NLCS and World Series, striking out 13 batters. Buehler recorded the final outs of Game Five, giving the Dodgers their first full-season title since 1988.
Pitchers typically take two years to return to form after Tommy John surgery. While the 30-year-old Buehler may not be the pitcher he was during his heyday, he can be a solid option in the Red Sox rotation. If he proves to be healthy, Buehler may get that long-term deal he is hoping for.
