One of the key figures during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason run to the World Series will be pitching for another team next season.
Right-hander Walker Buehler has agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Boston Red Sox that includes incentives, according to a Yahoo! Sports report Monday morning that was subsequently confirmed by multiple outlets. Buehler had been in the Dodgers’ rotation since the 2018 season and won two World Series titles with the franchise.
Though Buehler struggled in his return from a second Tommy John surgery of his career during the 2024 regular season, he delivered with a 3.60 earned run average over three starts and four appearances overall in the playoffs. He recorded the final out of the World Series for the Dodgers, emerging from the bullpen on one day’s rest to pitch the ninth inning and get the save in their Series-clinching Game 5 win over the New York Yankees.
Those encouraging postseason numbers proved enough to make Buehler, 30, the latest addition to the Red Sox pitching staff as Boston tries to contend in 2025. The team already recently traded for former Chicago White Sox Garrett Crochet and signed left-hander Patrick Sandoval, who’s recovering from his own Tommy John surgery. Buehler had a 1-6 record and 5.38 earned run average over 16 regular-season starts in 2024.
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Buehler’s best season came in 2021 when he finished with a 16-4 record and 2.47 ERA while striking out 212 over 207 innings. It appeared the Dodgers had a new ace to pair with Clayton Kershaw for the foreseeable future, but Buehler then missed nearly two years of action (including the entire 2023 season) due to elbow injuries that forced him under the knife again. He returned to the mound last May.
Boston Red Sox projected 2025 rotation
- Garrett Crochet
- Walker Buehler
- Tanner Houck
- Brayan Bello
- Lucas Giolito/Kutter Crawford
Walker Buehler stats
- 7 seasons
- 47-22 career record
- 3.27 career earned run average
- 2 All-Star game appearances
- 2 World Series titles
- 1-6 record, 5.38 ERA in 2024
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