Pitcher Walker Buehler agrees to $21M deal with Boston Red Sox

Dec. 23 (UPI) — Free agent pitcher Walker Buehler agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Sources told ESPN, MLB.com and The Athletic about the agreement Monday. Buehler, 30, went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA over 16 starts last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He missed the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Buehler, 30, has a 47-22 record with a 3.27 ERA over 131 career appearances, including 122 starts. The two-time All-Star went 16-4 with a career-best 2.47 ERA over 33 starts in 2021.

He was 4-4 with a 3.04 ERA over 19 playoff appearances for the Dodgers, including his title-clinching save in Game 5 of the Dodgers’ win over the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series.

Sources: Walker Buehler, Red Sox agree to 1-year, $21M deal - ABC7 Los Angeles

The right-handed veteran is expected to join a Red Sox starting rotation that includes Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford.

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The New York Yankees probably feel like they’ve seen enough of Walker Buehler. Pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that made him a first-round draft pick in 2015, the 30-year-old Buehler dominated the Yankees in the 2024 World Series. It was Buehler who, in a rare relief appearance, came on in the ninth inning of Game 5 with his team leading by just one run.

Buehler proceeded to record three quick outs, finishing with a flourish by striking out Austin Wells and then Alex Verdugo to notch his first career save in either the postseason or regular season. The save sealed the Dodgers’ first World Series championship in a full season since 1988. (The Dodgers also won the World Series in 2020 following a pandemic-shortened 60 game season and expanded, 16-team playoff tournament.)

Sources: Walker Buehler, Red Sox agree to 1-year, $21M deal - ABC7 Los Angeles

His dramatic, series-winning save came on just one day of rest after Buehler shut down the Yankees in Game 3, hurling five sterling shutout innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, striking out five.

Buehler to Haunt Yankees as Member of Arch-Rival

But if the Yankees thought they were done with Buehler after his World Series performance, they will need to think again. In 2025, Buehler will join the Yankees in the American League East and become a key figure in what is generally considered baseball’s best and fiercest rivalry as a member of the starting rotation for the Boston Red Sox.

According to media reports, the free agent Buehler on Monday agreed to join the Red Sox on a one-year contract worth $21.05 million.