With the World Series wrapped up, several players are now stepping into free agency as their contracts conclude. First up, MLB will begin a five-day “quiet period,” allowing free agents to negotiate solely with their current teams.
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This past week, no one boosted their free-agent profile quite like Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler. After delivering five flawless innings in Game 3 against the New York Yankees, he emerged as a pivotal option for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during the final inning of Game 5.
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Buehler slammed the door shut on the Yankees in the ninth inning, leading the Dodgers to a 7-6 victory. Earlier in the game, the score was tied 5-5 when Buehler geared up for a possible late-game appearance—a notable feat since he hadn’t pitched in relief since 2018, and never in the postseason.
Following Blake Treinen’s scoreless eighth inning, Buehler stepped up to deliver another clutch performance during the World Series. This ending felt especially rewarding for him after a challenging season; coming back from his second Tommy John surgery, Buehler had a struggle-filled regular season, finishing with a 1-6 record and a 5.38 ERA over 16 starts.
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Despite his rough regular season, the injury-plagued rotation meant the Dodgers needed Buehler. When he faced a tough outing against the San Diego Padres, giving up six runs in the second inning of Game 3 in the National League Division Series, it was the only instance of the 15 innings he pitched in the postseason where he allowed a run.
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Postgame, in an interview with David Vassegh on SportsNet LA, Buehler opened up about the weight of his struggles this season, which included a significant hip injury. He candidly stated, “I thought I was going to get released,” to which Vassegh replied, “I don’t think you’ll get released now.” Buehler’s response, “We’ll see,” hinted that his free-agent status lingered in his mind, even amidst the celebration with his teammates at Yankee Stadium.
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Buehler now finds himself eligible for a qualifying offer, a potential one-year deal totaling $21.05 million for 2025. What a dramatic shift from earlier this month, raising questions about whether his postseason performance will warrant that offer. Will he accept it with the Dodgers, or venture into the free-agent market for the first time? As Buehler himself remarked: “We’ll see.”