Walker Buehler released by Red Sox as team circles potential suitors
The Boston Red Sox released right-hander Walker Buehler on Friday, exactly one week after he was shuffled to the bullpen. The move ends his time in Boston, where he signed a one-year, $21.05 million contract that the Sox will largely pay, save for the prorated league minimum for the rest of the season.
Buehler’s career arc has been a notable roller coaster. He finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting in 2021, going 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA and 7.1 Wins Above Replacement in 207 ⅔ innings. A Tommy John surgery to repair his elbow sidelined him in 2022. He returned in 2024 to a rocky regular season and a disappointing initial postseason start, but he responded with 10 scoreless innings in three playoff appearances, including a save in the clinching game of the World Series for the Dodgers.
In Boston, he went 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA and a -0.9 WAR across his tenure, a stark contrast to the high ceiling teams once saw in him. With the decision to release him, the Red Sox opened a spot on the roster and freed a rotation slot for others going forward.
As Buehler becomes a free agent at age 30 and remains a pitcher with World Series pedigree and All-Star credentials on his résumé, multiple clubs are likely to take a run at him. Here are several speculative destinations that have been floated as possibilities.
The Tigers have already faced injuries to their pitching staff, losing Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe for the season, while Casey Mize has had ongoing struggles. With Tarik Skubal as their anchor and questions behind him, Detroit could view Buehler as a veteran innings eater who could help stabilize a young depth chart. The Tigers have demonstrated a willingness to experiment with veteran arms in search of a reliable second or third starter behind Skubal, making Buehler a plausible fit.
The Royals, coached by pitching mentor Brian Sweeney, have shown they’re willing to take calculated risks on pitchers who can rebound. Even with a crowded rotation featuring Chris Paddack, Michael Lorenzen, Noah Cameron and others, Kansas City might explore adding a pitcher with Buehler’s upside as depth, possible long relief, or a bullpen option as they navigate a season that could hinge on reliable performances from the back of the rotation.
The Dodgers would carry a special lure for a reunion, even if the immediate plan isn’t to slot him into a playoff rotation. Los Angeles already has Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani in the mix for their four-man playoff rotation. If injuries or fatigue emerge, a familiar face in a bullpen or spot-start capacity could be appealing, keeping a door open for a late-season revival and potential postseason depth.
A non-contender scenario also exists. The Braves added Cal Quantrill off waivers on Aug. 21, a move that signaled a veteran presence to soak up innings for a club not in the thick of the race. If another team in that same category sought a veteran to absorb innings for a push in 2024 or to rebuild value ahead of free agency, they could consider Buehler, especially if he’s pitching well enough to help stabilize a rotation or bullpen in a late-season window.
What this means for Buehler going forward is uncertain but hopeful. A fresh start with a new organization could allow him to showcase the upside that once made him a centerpiece of a rotation. Teams weighing the risk-reward calculus will be considering his age, his track record, and the potential for him to reclaim velocity, consistency, and confidence after the comeback from Tommy John surgery.
Summary and outlook:
– Boston released Walker Buehler a week after moving him to the bullpen, with the team covering most of his current salary.
– Buehler is 30, with a history of elite performance, a major elbow surgery in 2022, and a recent stint where his playoff contributions drew praise despite a rough regular season in Boston.
– Several clubs—the Tigers, Royals, Dodgers, and Braves among potential suitors—could view him as a front- or middle-rotation gamble, bullpen depth, or a reclamation project that pays off in the right environment.
– A return to a familiar setting, such as the Dodgers, remains plausible but is not guaranteed; a non-contending team could also seek a veteran innings-eater to bolster its rotation or bullpen as the season winds down.
Overall, the release provides Buehler with a clear path to prove he can regain his pre-injury form while offering teams a low-risk, high-upside option to add depth to their pitching staff as the pursuit of a postseason run continues. If he can recapture his swing-and-mangage approach and stay healthy, there is tangible upside for a team in need of a lift later in the season.