Dodgers fans aren't taking Walker Buehler's traitorous signing with Padres well

On Monday night, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune reported that former Dodgers ace Walker Buehler had signed a minor league deal with the Padres and, unsurprisingly, Dodgers fans were quick to react.

It was a mix of sadness, outrage, disgust, and maybe a little bit of pity. Buehler went from getting the last out of the 2024 World Series, to a prove-it deal with the Red Sox, to being released, to a minor league deal with the Phillies, to a minor league deal with the Dodgers' sworn enemies.

Framber Valdez's signing with the Tigers opened the floodgates on a slow-moving starting pitching market; Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, and Justin Verlander have all since come off the board. But there's been nary a peep about Buehler, who staged an optimistic finish to his 2025 season despite all of the previous disappointment.

The Padres have been on a small-deal spending spree. They added Nick Castellanos after he was released by the Phillies, and then Griffin Canning, and now Buehler.

There are no guarantees for Buehler, but just the thought that he might be able to figure something out and help the team Dodgers fans hate most? It's a lot to digest.

Former Dodgers ace Walker Buehler signs minor league deal with Padres

San Diego's rotation isn't totally set. They have Joe Musgrove, Michael King, Nick Pivetta, and Randy Vásquez locked in, but there's a real chance that Buehler breaks camp and gets back to the major leagues in short order. Matt Waldron, Triston McKenzie, Germán Márquez, JP Sears, and Marco Gonzales are all also in the mix, and none have quite the same pedigree as Buehler.

Despite the overall failure of his 2025 season, there's still upside there that the Padres are certainly counting on seeing. After the Phillies promoted him to the majors in mid-September, he made two starts and a relief appearance for a 0.66 ERA over 13 2/3 innings, and he was credited with wins in all three.

Maybe it was just a flash in the pan, but Dodgers fans know better than to count Buehler out fully. He was 2024's unlikeliest hero in the World Series and, even with all of the struggles with injury and muddled return timelines that had him clashing with management at times, it just spoke of his desire to get back onto the mound and win.

This is a guy who some once thought would spend his entire career in Dodger blue. It's going to feel distinctly wrong to see him in brown and gold, even if he doesn't make it out of spring training.