The Los Angeles offered starting pitcher Walker Buehler $20 million during free agency after the 2024 season, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Buehler spent his entire career with the before the 2025 season, appearing in 131 games from 2017 to 2024.
“The made a $20 million return offer to Buehler, but not Flaherty, instead targeting Snell, who won Game 1 2-1, shutout the Brewers with eight one-hit innings, and has a 0.86 ERA this postseason,” Heyman wrote.
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The ‘ interest in retaining Buehler is understandable, as he appeared during the ‘ World Series runs in 2020 and 2024. During the 2020 postseason, he started five games and had a 1.80 ERA and struck out 39 batters through 25 innings. He spearheaded a hobbled rotation during the 2024 postseason, posting a 3.60 ERA in four appearances.
The right-handed pitcher ultimately signed a one-year, $21 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, but did not spend the entire season in Beantown. He pitched 112.1 innings with the Red Sox before being released at the end of August, posting a 5.45 ERA. The Phillies acquired him a few days later, and he won all three games he played in Philadelphia.
Buehler was on the Phillies roster during the NLDS, but did not play against the during the series.
Whether there was room for Buehler in the ‘ rotation is debatable, but the already had as many as six starters in their rotation in 2025. Shohei Ohtani and Emmett Sheehan returned to the mound from injury, and the additions of Blake Snell and Loki Sasaki further narrowed the ‘ starting roster.
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However, the will be happy with how things have played out, as their starting pitcher broke an MLB record in their recent NLCS win. In four games against the Milwaukee Brewers, starting pitchers posted a 0.63 ERA, the lowest of any MLB team in the League Championship Series.
The return to the World Series this season, with the final series of the season beginning on Friday, October 24th.
Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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