Walker Buehler’s contract with the Boston Red Sox lacks significant long-term security.
The 30-year-old pitcher signed a one-year deal valued at $21.05 million. A longer, more lucrative free-agent offer was likely unavailable due to his underwhelming performance last season. Returning from Tommy John surgery, Buehler struggled, posting a 1-6 record with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.553 WHIP—easily the worst numbers of his career since becoming a full-time starter in 2018. However, his form dramatically improved during the postseason, helping the Dodgers secure a World Series title. Buehler delivered 10 scoreless innings in the playoffs, including the series-clinching performance at Yankee Stadium.
This resurgence earned Buehler his opportunity with the Red Sox and a chance to prove he can sustain his elite form over a full season. If successful, he could position himself for a substantial payday next offseason. The challenge is his alone to overcome, but he finds motivation in that prospect.
“My confidence comes from knowing I can be one of the top players in the majors,” Buehler said during a Zoom call with reporters. “I’ve shown that for much of my career, but the past two years have been tough. Without the last six weeks of the season, I don’t know where I’d be mentally or what offers I’d have received. Wrapping up a tough year on a high note makes proving myself to the league and to myself all the more exciting.”
This offseason marked Buehler’s first experience in free agency. While it didn’t unfold as he once hoped when he debuted with the Dodgers in 2017, it offers a fresh start to rebuild his value.
Buehler had to wait his turn as the starting pitching market unfolded, with Blake Snell, Max Fried, and Corbin Burnes signing big deals ahead of him. Compared to those contracts, Buehler’s agreement with the Red Sox was modest. Still, he feels Boston is a “good fit.”
“When you’re a rookie, you imagine free agency as 30 teams calling, making offers every day, and constantly outbidding each other. But that’s just not how it works,” Buehler explained. “This year’s class was loaded with talent, and I get that. We also had to consider different angles—should we go for a multi-year deal, a one-year deal, or a team I really want to play for? In the end, Boston was the best option—a one-year deal with a winning and historic franchise that has a real chance to compete.”
Playing for the Red Sox offers Buehler a new challenge. Unlike his role in the Dodgers’ star-studded rotation, he’ll be a key figure in Boston’s revamped pitching staff. Notably, he’s the only member of the Red Sox rotation with World Series experience.
Buehler knows his performance in Boston will shape the next phase of his career, but he’s optimistic it’s all part of the journey.
“Boston feels like one of those places you’re naturally drawn to,” said Buehler, who played in the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2014. “For three or four weeks before I signed, I had a feeling this was where I’d end up, and I’m happy it worked out.”
