To keep their hometown World Series hero in town, will the Los Angeles Dodgers take strong action?
Walker Buehler, a right-hander for the Dodgers, was crucial to their championship run following a terrible regular season in which he recorded a 5.38 ERA. He recorded ten straight shutout innings to end the playoffs, including the game-winning save against the New York Yankees in Game 5.
There was “mutual interest” between the Yankees and Buehler, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network earlier this week, which would undoubtedly cause mixed feelings among Dodgers supporters. But before Buehler formally registers with the Pinstripes, there is still a long way to go.
Buehler has only ever known the Dodgers as a home, so if there’s any sign that they want him back, he’ll probably show them respect. The odds are in favour of LA according to a recent round of free-agent forecasts.
Despite the Yankees’ best efforts to entice the two-time All-Star to the Bronx, Bleacher Report’s Erik Beaston projected that Buehler will re-sign with the Dodgers.
It certainly makes sense that the Yankees would be interested in adding Buehler to their rotation to bolster it, Beaston said, having witnessed firsthand how he sent them home without a championship ring.
“If there is any indication that the two sides could make a deal happen, one would have to assume he would be open to returning to the only organisation he has ever known, with a roster that is as impressive as any in professional baseball.”
Tim Britton of The Athletic predicted that Buehler, 30, would sign a two-year contract worth $32 million. Given the budget flexibility Shohei Ohtani’s contract affords the Dodgers, that seems like a fair asking price, though it’s impossible to predict how far the bidding war will actually go.
Even if it’s just one forecast, Dodgers supporters who have come to adore Buehler might find solace in it.
