With injuries decimating the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation and the July 31 trade deadline inching closer, ESPN’s Jeff Passan dropped a name that makes too much sense: Walker Buehler.
Yes, that Buehler—the same one who helped deliver a World Series title just last season and who could now be the missing piece in the Dodgers’ quest to become the first back-to-back champs since the 2000 Yankees.
Familiar Face, Familiar Firepower
Let’s break it down. Buehler spent seven seasons in L.A. and built a reputation as a postseason warrior. He was the guy on the mound when the Dodgers closed out the 2024 World Series against the Yankees. The man knows pressure. He knows Dodger Stadium. And, perhaps most importantly, he knows how to win.
Now, in Boston, Buehler’s numbers don’t exactly leap off the page—4-3 record, 4.44 ERA, 1.31 WHIP through nine starts—but context matters. He’s coming off a heavy playoff run and adjusting to a new team in a new league. And even with those modest stats, he’s still better than the patchwork options currently being run out in Los Angeles.
L.A.’s Rotation Woes
If there’s one flaw on this powerhouse Dodgers roster, it’s the rotation. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki—three massive arms—are all out with shoulder injuries. That’s not just bad luck; it’s a crisis.
The team ranks 25th in MLB in quality starts through 60 games, and that lack of consistency on the mound is starting to bleed into results. L.A. was recently outscored 11-6 in back-to-back losses to the Yankees and Mets—both playoff-caliber teams.
If the Dodgers want to stay ahead in a competitive National League and make a deep postseason run, they need innings and reliability. Buehler offers both.
Why the Deal Makes Sense
On paper, it’s a dream match. Buehler is on a one-year, $21.05M deal—not a long-term financial commitment—and Boston may be open to selling if they continue to drift in the AL East (they’re currently sitting fourth at 29-32). Add in the fact that L.A. has one of the deepest farm systems in all of baseball, and they have both the motive and the means to make this happen.
Passan framed it perfectly: “To bring in someone who knows their system, knows their culture, and knows how to show up in the biggest moments is a fit that’s almost too good to be true.”
Dodgers Look Ahead to October
This isn’t just about surviving the summer for the Dodgers. It’s about preparing for October. A healthy Buehler, reunited with a familiar clubhouse and plugged into a rotation that desperately needs stability, could be the move that flips the narrative from “vulnerable defending champs” to “historic dynasty in the making.”
Walker Buehler already delivered one title. A second one—with a Hollywood comeback arc to match—might be just one phone call away.
