Dodgers’ Walker Buehler draws interest from ‘about 10 teams’

Los Angeles Dodgers free-agent pitcher Walker Buehler has drawn interest from about 10 clubs, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

Rogers believes Buehler helped increase his market value after throwing ten scoreless innings between the National League Championship Series and the World Series. Additionally, Buehler’s heroics in the final inning of the World Series helped the right-hander gain strong representation as a free agent.

“A deal for Buehler could look like a short-term bet on himself after he returns from his second Tommy John surgery in 2024, although some teams still see him as the man to finish fourth in the Cy Young voting as recently as 2021 took place,” wrote Rogers . “That could mean a long-term contract of three to four years is still on the cards as he puts his injuries on the back burner.”

The Dodgers have made a lot of moves lately. The team signed outfielder Michael Conforto to a one-year, $17 million contract. The Dodgers also brought back Blake Treinen on a two-year, $22 million contract. Both deals came on the eve of the Winter Meetings, the same day Soto signed his groundbreaking deal with the New York Mets.

While the Dodgers have already bolstered their roster, fans are excited to see if the organization will re-sign fan favorites like Buehler and Teoscar Hernández. The Dodgers decided not to make a qualifying offer to Buehler because the deal would likely have hurt the right-hander’s market value.

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, there is speculation that the signing of free-agent pitcher Blake Snell suggests there is no more room for Buehler.

“So I think some teams will jump on Buehler and give him a nice one-year extended contract with a player option for a second year,” Nightengale said. “He was great in the postseason — or solid, I should say. Great on the backend. He came out in the ninth inning of Game 5, largely because he was a free agent after surgery and everything else. Great team player.” But I would doubt it now. Where does it actually fit? Especially like you said, if you get young pitcher Roki Sasaki, there’s really no room for him Flaherty.”

The Buehler sweepstakes will unfold in the coming weeks, but his fate in free agency remains uncertain.