Right-hander Walker Buehler has agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.
The deal brings the pitcher, who secured the final out of this year’s World Series, to a team strategically bolstering its starting rotation as it shifts focus toward contention.
The agreement also includes an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses, sources said.
Buehler, a 30-year-old two-time All-Star and one of the most intriguing free agents this offseason, was among the league’s premier starters from 2018 to 2021.
After undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in 2022, he returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers this year, posting a 5.38 ERA over 16 starts.
Despite his regular-season struggles, Buehler reaffirmed his reputation as a postseason ace, throwing four shutout innings in a National League Championship Series win and five more in a World Series victory.
He capped off his performance by securing Los Angeles’ championship with a gritty ninth inning on one day’s rest during Game 5 against the New York Yankees.
The Red Sox hope Buehler can replicate that October dominance. After finishing last season with the ninth-most runs scored in baseball and boasting the league’s top three hitting prospects—outfielder Roman Anthony, infielder/outfielder Kristian Campbell, and shortstop Marcelo Mayer—Boston entered the offseason with a clear mission to strengthen its pitching.
Though their plans took time to come together, the Red Sox have assembled a promising group of high-upside pitchers without overextending financially.
Key additions include left-hander Garrett Crochet, acquired in a blockbuster trade, who is projected to anchor the rotation as the Opening Day starter for the next two years under affordable arbitration salaries.
The team also secured left-hander Patrick Sandoval on a two-year, $18.25 million deal. Sandoval, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is expected to return by August.
Buehler has built a reputation as an intimidating presence on the mound, combining elite skill with a fiery attitude. His signature pitch, a four-seam fastball clocking in at 96-97 mph and pinpointed with precision, is complemented by a cutter, curveball, slider, changeup, and sinker, leaving hitters routinely baffled.
His peak came in 2021, following his instrumental role in the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship. That year, Buehler posted a 16-4 record with a 2.47 ERA over 207⅔ innings, striking out 212 and walking 52. He finished fourth in a closely contested National League Cy Young race.
Recurring elbow injuries sidelined Buehler for much of 2022, culminating in a Tommy John revision surgery with a flexor repair. Players returning from a second Tommy John surgery face extended recovery timelines; Buehler, who had his first procedure in 2015 shortly after being drafted 24th overall by the Dodgers, missed the entire 2023 season.
When he returned in May of this year, his velocity and sharpness were noticeably diminished, and hip inflammation sent him back to the injured list in June. By the time he returned in August, Buehler’s struggles continued, but injuries in the Dodgers’ rotation solidified his importance for the postseason.
In October, Buehler showed flashes of his former self, delivering vintage performances reminiscent of his pre-surgery dominance. His decision to sign a one-year deal rather than pursue a multiyear contract suggests he sees this as a stepping stone to proving his value at full strength.
For the Red Sox, a healthy Buehler, coupled with high-performance seasons from Crochet and a recovered Sandoval, could transform their pitching depth into a formidable asset.
The team also retains right-handers Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Lucas Giolito—the latter also on the mend from Tommy John surgery—making their rotation a potential strength in 2025.
