Less than two weeks after dealing lefty Garrett Crochet in a blockbuster trade with the White Sox, the Red Sox They have reportedly made another aggressive addition as they continue to improve their starting rotation.
according to multiple reportsthe Red Sox have agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million deal with Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler. The deal, which is pending a physical, is said to include performance bonuses worth up to $2.5 million. Buehler did not receive a qualifying offer from Los Angeles, so the Red Sox will not have to sacrifice a draft pick to sign him. The value of your agreement is identical to the value of this year’s QO.
Crochet and Buehler will headline a new Red Sox rotation that also projects to include returners Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Lucas Giolito with righties Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts and Quinn Priester as depth options. While injuries are inevitable and tend to lead to teams needing more than five starters to get through the year, the addition of Buehler opens the door for someone like Crawford to be traded or put in the bullpen to start the season. With six proven starters in their rotation and a trio of capable depth options, it seems pretty unlikely that the Red Sox are in the market for another starter like Corbin Burnes or a reunion with Nick Pivetta. Boston will also have recently signed lefty Patrick Sandoval potentially available at the end of 2025 when he returns from Tommy John surgery.
Buehler, who was one of the most intriguing free agents on the open market, spent the last eight seasons with the Dodgers, winning two World Series titles and two All-Star nominations. His most dominant season came in 2021, when he went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA, and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. Buehler missed the 2023 season after undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery. After returning in 2024, he performed below expectations, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA as a starter.
The postseason was a different story as Buehler re-established his value by pitching well. He overcame a rough start in Game 3 of the NLDS against San Diego to post a 3.60 ERA while striking out 13 batters in 15 innings as Los Angeles won its second title in five seasons. Buehler dominated the Yankees through five shutout innings in Game 3 of the World Series, then shut the door on them by striking out two batters in a 1-2-3 ninth in Game 5. Because of the lone start of his free agency. , it was always likely that he would seek to sign a trial agreement to establish value.
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