After lacking all the 2023 season on account of harm, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler has been seeking to regain his Cy Younger-caliber type that he has proven to have up to now.
The 30-year-old appeared rusty in his return to the majors and even missed a while on account of a hip harm, however after ending the postseason on a excessive notice, he’s more likely to see loads of suitors this offseason. When wholesome from 2018-2021, Buehler had a 39-13 report with a 2.82 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 620 strikeouts over 564 innings pitched.
He can be a significant bounce-back goal as groups look to enhance and will find yourself being one of many steals of the offseason.
Listed below are three groups that ought to make the play for Buehler’s signature this offseason if he would not return to the Dodgers:
San Francisco Giants
With pitcher Blake Snell more likely to decide out of his contract with the Giants and develop into a free agent, changing him with somebody of Buehler’s pedigree can be a good way for the Giants to harm their division rival and solidify their rotation in the identical transfer.
Buehler has all the time had success when going through the Giants throughout his profession, posting a 7-2 report with a 2.79 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 76 strikeouts over 71 innings pitched towards the membership.
With pitcher Logan Webb already atop the Giants rotation, Buehler would fill a significant want whereas additionally attending to play in one of the pitcher-friendly ballparks within the MLB. Whereas they’d nonetheless want just a few different items, including Buehler can be a terrific start line for the Giants as they give the impression of being to develop into a playoff crew in 2025.
Atlanta Braves
Beginning pitchers Max Fried and Charlie Morton are each doubtless gone this offseason, making the Atlanta Braves one other potential massive touchdown spot for Buehler to go to in free company. With a roster constructed with a core of gamers locked in for the subsequent few seasons, the Braves will go into the offseason seeking to retool and make one other run at profitable the World Collection.
Including Buehler to the combo with the front-runner for the 2024 Nationwide League Cy Younger award in pitcher Chris Sale, top-of-the-line right-handers in baseball in Spencer Strider and breakout pitcher Reynaldo Lopez would give the Braves top-of-the-line rotations in baseball.
After buying and selling outfielder Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon, may a giant splash in free company be on the horizon for the 2021 World Collection champions?Â
Texas Rangers
With just a few contracts coming off the books, together with pitchers Max Scherzer and Andrew Heaney, and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi holding a participant possibility, it will be clever for the Rangers so as to add a giant piece to the rotation like Buehler.
With pitcher Jacob deGrom nonetheless a significant query mark as to what number of begins for which he’ll be out there, they’re left with a rotation that has just a few thrilling younger arms however not a lot else. Including Buehler would enable him to slip into the highest of the rotation whereas additionally permitting the opposite pitchers on the roster to fill extra appropriate spots on the pitching employees.Â
Buehler’s good buddy and former Dodgers teammate, shortstop Corey Seager, is on the Rangers. Might that entice him to affix the American League crew that could be a yr faraway from profitable a World Collection and seeking to make their manner again in 2025?