The Atlanta Braves are reportedly among the teams expressing interest in free-agent pitcher Walker Buehler, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi…
This news isn’t particularly surprising for a couple of reasons. First, the Braves have a clear need to strengthen their starting rotation. With Spencer Strider expected to miss part of the upcoming season and the possible departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton, bolstering the rotation has become a critical task for general manager Alex Anthopoulos.
Additionally, concerns about other pitchers add to the urgency. Chris Sale’s injury history, Reynaldo Lopez’s durability, and Spencer Schwellenbach’s lack of a full season’s workload highlight the need for reliable starters in Atlanta.
The potential signing of Buehler also makes sense from a value perspective. Once regarded as one of the league’s elite starters and a perennial Cy Young contender, Buehler posted a stellar 2.82 ERA across 564 innings for the Dodgers between 2018 and 2021, boasting a 27.7% strikeout rate and a 6.1% walk rate.
However, injuries have taken a toll on Buehler in recent years. After sitting out the entire 2023 season, he returned in 2024, pitching 75.1 innings with a 5.38 ERA and career-low strikeout and walk rates of 18.6% and 8.1%, respectively.
Despite this, there are reasons for optimism. With another year of recovery from Tommy John surgery, Buehler will head into 2025 after a full offseason and a strong finish to the previous year. Following a rough outing against the Padres in the NLDS, he pitched 10 scoreless innings, including closing out the World Series.
Signing Buehler would be a high-risk, high-reward move for the Braves. He’s expected to command a one-year contract worth under $20 million, with the potential to deliver a Cy Young-caliber season. At just 30 years old, Buehler will be highly motivated to perform in 2025 to secure a lucrative long-term deal next offseason.
