Dodgers deserting Walker Buehler before Red Sox departure turned out to be misleading

Last year, the Dodgers declined to extend the $21.05 million qualifying offer to homegrown kid Walker Buehler, reportedly so as to not hurt his market in free agency. They were suggested to have been working on a reunion with Buehler early in the offseason, but he opted instead to sign with the Red Sox on a one-year, $21.05 million deal — exactly the same as the QO. By then, the Dodgers had already pivoted to Blake Snell.

Buehler's "one year in Boston" turned out to be more like 3/4 of the year there and the other 1/4 in Philadelphia, after the Red Sox DFA'd him in late August. He posted a 5.45 ERA in 22 starts and a relief appearance in Boston.

There were rumors that the Dodgers had offered Buehler the exact same amount as the Red Sox, which made his departure all the more confusing. Although he had publicly butted heads with Dodgers management a few times over injury concerns, why wouldn't he want to come back to the organization that built him?

Per Jon Heyman, the Dodgers actually offered Buehler $20 million for one year. If that's the case, you can't really blame the guy for taking the better deal elsewhere.

Dodgers reportedly offered Walker Buehler $20 million to return to LA in 2026

It'll be interesting to see how Buehler's free agency pans out this offseason. After signing with the Phillies on a minor league deal, he pitched 13 2/3 great innings for them and was on the NLDS roster, though he didn't pitch in the series. It's incredibly unlikely that Buehler gets close to the $21.05 million he made this year, or more than a single year wherever he signs, but he could be looking at a $15-17 million, one-year deal with a smaller-market team that's willing to take a chance on him.

It's a little surprising that the Dodgers made Buehler an offer at all for this year, given the way Buehler pitched in 2024, but they would've been remiss to not make an attempt at keeping a pitcher who's done a lot for the organization.

The Dodgers came out on the other end of it as the winners regardless. Their pivot to Snell has already paid off in spades, and they bounced Buehler's Phillies from the NLDS in four games. At least they tried, and no one can fault Buehler for taking more money.