MLB

Red Sox Ink Dodgers World Series Hero Walker Buehler on One-Year Deal

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By
Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published23 Dec 2024

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Red Sox Ink Walker Buehler

The Boston Red Sox have announced the signing of former Dodger Ace Walker Buhler. Buhler is the newest addition to a revamped starting pitching staff in Boston. 

Walker Buehler, the pitcher who sealed the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series triumph, is now poised to write the next chapter of his career in Boston. The former Dodgers ace, who delivered the final out against the Yankees to clinch Los Angeles’ second championship in five years, has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Red Sox worth $21.05 million.

For Boston, this isn’t just a signing; it’s a statement. Buehler, known for his precision and postseason poise, brings championship pedigree to a franchise hungry to return to October glory. The Fenway faithful will now look to Buehler to deliver the kind of magic that has already cemented his place in baseball lore.

Walker Buehler is the Newest Addition to Revamped Staff in Boston

At 30 years old, Walker Buehler’s season was a tale of two halves. The regular season brought challenges—posting a 5.38 ERA and a 1-6 record in 16 starts for the Dodgers. But when October arrived, Buehler found his stride. Across 10 scoreless postseason innings, he became the steady hand the Dodgers needed. His heroics peaked with a Game 3 win and a dramatic save in Game 5, sealing the World Series against the Yankees.

Buehler brings that postseason pedigree to Boston, joining a revamped Red Sox rotation. On the heels of trading for former White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, Boston has added depth and experience with Buehler. The rotation, featuring Crochet, Lucas Giolito, Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, and Patrick Sandoval—slated to return from Tommy John surgery later in the season—signals Boston’s commitment to competing.

For Buehler, the move is layered with rivalry. Having closed out the Yankees in his final act as a Dodger, he now dons the uniform of New York’s greatest adversary. Boston is banking on his October prowess to deliver moments just as memorable at Fenway Park. With Buehler in the fold, the Red Sox are writing a new chapter, one pitch at a time.

One Year Deal is Win/Win for Buehler, Red Sox

This deal is a win/ win for the former Dodger ace and the Boston Red Sox. After a few down seasons, Buehler gets to pitch in one of the biggest markets in baseball to prove he has regained his form following another elbow surgery. The Red Sox get a hungry former ace on a one-year deal with much to prove to the league.

After nearly two years lost to his second Tommy John surgery, Walker Buehler’s 2024 season began as a shadow of his former self. Across 75 1/3 innings, he posted a career-worst 5.38 ERA, paired with a 4.68 expected ERA and a diminished 18.6 percent strikeout rate. Though his fastball velocity returned to pre-injury levels, the swing-and-miss magic and out-of-zone chases weren’t there. For much of the season, the two-time All-Star seemed far removed from his 2018-2021 peak.

But then came October. In the crucible of the postseason, Buehler reminded everyone why he’s built for the big stage. Across 15 playoff innings, he recorded a 3.60 ERA, delivering a dominant Game 3 outing in the World Series with five shutout innings and five strikeouts. Two days later, he stood on the mound in the ninth inning, a 1-2-3 frame securing the Dodgers’ eighth World Series title.

At 30, with a history of injuries and the ups and downs of 2024, Buehler may no longer be the ace he once was. Yet, his October heroics suggest there’s still a role for him—a steady presence in the middle of a contending team’s rotation. It’s not about reclaiming the past but proving there’s still more ahead.