Walker Buehler is headed back to the National League West.
The two-time All-Star pitcher Buehler has signed with the San Diego Padres as a free agent, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Monday. Buehler is reportedly getting a minor-league deal from the Padres.
Now 31 years old, Buehler was an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 and 2021 and won two World Series titles with them in 2020 and 2024. Most notably in 2024, Buehler closed out Game 5 of the World Series vs. the New York Yankees by earning his first career save to clinch the Commissioner’s Trophy for the Dodgers.
But Buehler was not very good last season for the Boston Red Sox, whom he signed with in free agency two Decembers ago. He was 7-7 with an ugly 5.45 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP before being released by Boston in August. Buehler then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and went 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP (albeit over just three total appearances).
With the Padres, Buehler will not have a guaranteed role. Instead, he is expected to compete with the likes of Matt Waldron, Triston McKenzie, and JP Sears for the final spot in the San Diego rotation.
That said, the Padres have been very active in free agency over the last several days. In addition to signing Buehler, Griffin Canning, and German Marquez to help bolster their pitching staff, San Diego recently managed to pick up a controversial hitter as well.
