Right now might be the best winter to be a Dodger fan since … 2020? 1988? It’s been a while. The two biggest free agents of the off-season are both Dodgers, while one of the best pitchers in the...
Right now might be the best winter to be a Dodger fan since … 2020? 1988? It’s been a while.
The two biggest free agents of the off-season are both Dodgers, while one of the best pitchers in the game just arrived via a trade and contract extension.
These moves hold implications for the rest of the Dodgers’ roster, Walker Buehler chief among them. A fan favorite, Buehler endeared himself to Los Angeles with his moxie on the mound and knack for performing during the big moments.
Now, after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in late 2022, and with one year left of team control, Buehler’s future with the organization remains in question.
Looking ahead to 2025, Buehler might not have a spot in the rotation. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Emmet Sheehan all figure to be under contract and healthy enough to pitch. Even if the team moves to a six-man rotation, Buehler would be a bonus, not a necessity.
Beyond that, the financials could get tricky when trying to add Buehler. If he pitches well in 2024, he could price himself out of the Dodgers’ internal budget. The team has spent $1.1 billion this offseason alone and could turn to younger, cheaper options to fill out their rotation in the years to come. If Buehler pitches poorly, the Dodgers’ front office might move on from him for performance reasons.
As for 2024, Buehler projects to slot in to an incredibly deep rotation, reducing his burden to shoulder more innings than his elbow can handle. It could very well be the last season he dons Dodger Blue.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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