Red Sox sign starting pitcher Walker Buehler to one-year, $21.05 million deal: reports

The Boston Red Sox continued to expand their pitching staff on Monday, reportedly signing two-time All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler to a one-year contract.

ESPN reported that the deal is worth $21.05 million and includes the chance to earn $2.5 million in performance bonuses.

Buehler once succeeded Clayton Kershaw as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top player and his career was derailed by an injury. He played in just 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 earned run average.

But in the postseason, he was a key contributor for the World Series champion Dodgers. He made four appearances (three starts) and posted a 1-1 record with a 3.60 ERA over 15 innings. He struck out 13 and walked five.

He also made a save and pitched a day’s rest in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series, when 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). Since debuting with the Dodgers in 2017, he has recorded 754 strikeouts in 713 2/3 innings.

He finished fourth in 2021 National League Cy Young Award voting as he went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA and led the majors in starts with 33.

In Boston, Buehler will join a roster 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 has had Tommy John surgery.

Manaea is coming off a 12-win season

Sean Manaea is expected to return to the New York Mets on a three-year deal worth $75 million, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP Monday on condition of anonymity because the deal was contingent on a successful physical exam.

Manaea emerged as New York’s best starter this year in his first season with the team, posting a 12-6 record with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. The left-hander declined his 2025 player option and forwent the final $13.5 million of a two-year, $28 million contract he signed in January to become a free agent for the third consecutive season.

Then last month he turned down a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets to hit the open market again.

Reuniting with Manaea, who turns 33 on February 1, gives New York a much-needed frontline starter to complete its reconstructed rotation. After signing slugger Juan Soto to a record, 15-year, $765 million contract, owner Steve Cohen committed $916.25 million to five free agents this offseason, four of whom are starting pitchers .

The club also signed right-handed rookies Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million), Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million) and Griffin Canning (one year, $4.25 million). Holmes, a two-time All-Star as a closer for the New York Yankees, plans to move from reliever to starter.

Manaea struck out 184 batters this year and walked 63 in a career-high 181 2/3 innings. He lowered his arm slot midway through the season to emulate another nasty left-hander, National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale of Atlanta, and finished with a 6-2 record and a 3.09 ERA in his final 12 seasons New York’s most effective starter across regular-season outings.

During the playoffs, Manaea went 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts and 19 innings, giving the Mets a surprising berth in the National League Championship Series.

Pederson will receive an opt-out after the first season

Free agent outfielder Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a two-year contract, multiple media outlets reported.

ESPN said the contract, which has not yet taken effect, is worth $37 million and includes a player opt-out after the first year.

Texas will be the sixth team for the 32-year-old Pederson.

He spent the 2024 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, serving as their designated hitter after signing a one-year, $12.5 million contract. He declined his $14 million mutual option.

At Arizona, he hit .275 with 23 home runs and 64 runs batted in in over 132 games. He did most of his damage against right-handed pitchers, posting a .281 batting average with 22 home runs and 60 RBI, while posting a .219 batting average in limited action against left-handed pitchers.

Pederson, a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series winner, was drafted by the Dodgers in the 11th round out of high school in 2010. He played seven seasons in Los Angeles (2014-20) before spending time with the Chicago Cubs (2021), Atlanta (2021), San Francisco Giants (2022-23) and Diamondbacks.