The Boston Red Sox continued to build their pitching staff Monday, reportedly signing two-time All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler to a one-year contract.
ESPN reported the deal is worth $21.05 million and includes the chance to earn $2.5 million in performance bonuses.
Once the heir apparent to Clayton Kershaw as the ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Buehler saw his career sent off track by injury. He appeared in only 12 games in 2022 and missed the 2023 season as he recovered from his second Tommy John surgery. A hip injury limited him to 16 regular-season starts in 2024, finishing 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA.
But in the postseason, he was a key contributor for the World Series champion Dodgers. He made four appearances (three starts), posting a 1-1 record with a 3.60 ERA over 15 innings. He struck out 13 and walked five.
He also picked up one save, throwing on one day’s rest in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series as the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees.
Buehler, 30, has a 47-22 record and a 3.27 ERA in 131 career games (122 starts). He has 754 strikeouts in 713 2/3 innings since debuting with the Dodgers in 2017.
He finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 2021, when he finished 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA and led the majors in starts with 33.
In Boston, Buehler will join a staff that recently added left-hander Garrett Crochet in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. Other potential starters include right-handers Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito and Tanner Houck.
Giolito is coming off Tommy John surgery.
–Field Level Media
