THE @DODGERS HAVE CAPTURED THEIR 8TH #WORLDSERIES TITLE! #CHAMPS
Free Agent Profile: Walker Buehler is a low-risk, high-reward starting pitcher the Blue Jays could target this off-season
Photo credit: © Brad Penner - USA Today
Nov 5, 2024, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 29, 2024, 00:38 EST
Walker Buehler may be one of the best starting pitchers on the market this off-season.
The 30-year-old looked like an ace early in his career but has dealt with injuries the past three seasons that have limited his playing time. With that being said, any team looking to sign Buehler may get a top-of-the-rotation righty who can eat innings.
What’s more is that the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t give him a qualifying offer, meaning that there is no loss of a draft pick attached to signing the righty.
Let’s take a look at what Buehler could offer the Blue Jays.
Walker Buehler’s stats
It wasn’t a great season for Buehler in 2024, as the 30-year-old finished with a 5.38 ERA and a 5.54 FIP in 75.1 innings pitched, with an 18.6 K% and an 8.1 BB%. He had a successful postseason with the Dodgers though, finishing with a 3.60 ERA and a 3.50 FIP in 15 innings pitched. Buehler also recorded the final out (and his first career save) to win the World Series.
Buehler only pitched 65 innings with the Dodgers in 2022 before requiring Tommy John surgery, with the righty missing the entire 2023 season as well. When he’s healthy and at the top of his game, Buehler is one of the league’s best pitchers. In 2021, the then-26-year-old finished the season with a 2.47 ERA and a 3.16 FIP in 207.2 innings pitched. He finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting.
For his career, Buehler has a 3.27 ERA and a 3.50 FIP in 713.2 innings pitched, with a 26 K% and a 6.5 BB%. It’s unclear if he’ll ever find the form he had before the injury, but if he does, he’s instantly one of the Blue Jays’ best starters.
Walker Buehler’s contract outlook
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, he predicts that Buehler will sign a one-year deal worth $10 million with incentives, likely with the Dodgers.
On the other hand, Spotrac believes that his market value is just $3.9 million, with comparable contracts to Colin Rea, Tyler Beede, JT Brubaker, and Spencer Turnbull. Of course, Buehler is a better pitcher than all those comparables, but it’s quite clear that he’ll likely get a short-term deal to see if he can regain his form.
Is Walker Buehler a fit for the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays will look to add a starting pitcher, but it isn’t exactly a priority. As it stands, the rotation consists of five right-handed pitchers, José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Yariel Rodríguez, and Bowden Francis.
With that said, adding a potential ace like Buehler to bump Francis or Rodríguez into the bullpen would make the pitching staff that much better. While adding a starter like Buehler isn’t a need by any means, it sure wouldn’t hurt.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.