Walker Buehler Free Agency Update: Yankees, Red Sox, and more teams vie for 2x All-Star in multi-year deal with opt-outs - Report
Walker Buehler is one of the higher-tier free agents still without a deal for the 2025 season. As pitchers like Blake Snell and Max Fried have already signed, the interest is starting to pick up.
He missed the entirety of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In 2024, he struggled with a hip injury, posting a 1-6 record with a 5.38 ERA, but should come into the new season healthy.
Buehler and his agents want to secure his future. They are not looking for a one-year deal this winter. Per MLB insider Buster Olney, he wants to secure a multi-year deal with opt-outs.
The New York Yankees were an interested party. However, they just recently signed Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract just a few days ago. according to Olney, the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants were other interested clubs.
Chicago Cubs are also interested in Walker Buehler
Another club to be watchful of is the Chicago Cubs. They have come into the offseason needing rotational help after finishing in the middle of the pack in the National League Central.
While the club has already signed LHP Matthew Boyd, this team is still looking for another arm. They have submitted their initial presentation to try to land Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.
With Sasaki's popularity, there is a good chance the Cubbies will miss out on him. This is where their interest in Walker Buehler could intensify. According to MLB insider Patrick Mooney, they have already shown initial interest.
The Athletics are another club fans will want to keep their eye on throughout this offseason. They have also shown interest in the hard-throwing righty early this winter and are looking to avoid grievance from the players association.