Big game features that put WS on the back burner, 'Buller, Snell not return to LAD's recruitment"
Nov 29, 2024
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The Athletic reporter Ken Rosenthal told a local podcast 'Foul Territory' on the 28th (Korea time) that he does not expect Walker Buehler to return to the Dodgers. However, Teoscar Hernandez said, "I think it's a good chance to renew the contract."
Buehler qualified as an FA after this season and is currently looking for a new contract. Whether or not to stay with the Dodgers is a big concern, but Snell came in, so the renewal of Buehler's contract seems to have been put on the back burner. Even without Buehler, he is convinced that there is no problem with the rotation.
Buehler, who joined the Dodgers as the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 draft and grew up in Palm, was a promising prospect who was spotlighted as Clayton Kershaw's successor after winning the big league.
After making his major league debut in 2017, he showed ace qualities with 8-5 losses and a 2.62 ERA in 2018, he was selected as an All-Star with 14-4 losses and a 3.26 ERA in 2019 and ranked 9th in the Cy Young Award voting.
After the shortened season in 2020, he pitched 207 ⅔ innings in 33 games in 2021 with 16 wins, 4 losses and a 2.47 ERA to play as an All-Star and finished preparing to enjoy his prime by ranking fourth in the Cy Young Award voting.
However, it started to draw a downward trend in 2022. He suffered an elbow injury and eventually underwent Tommy John Surgery in August of that year and went into rehabilitation. After a year and a half of rehabilitation, he was originally expected to return to normal this year, but after repeated injuries and sluggish performances, he ended the season with a 1-6 record and a 5.38 ERA in 16 games.
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However, the Dodgers, who are planning a six-man rotation next year, wanted a more powerful pitcher.
Buehler's fastball restraint averaged 95.3 miles in 2021 to 95.2 miles in 2022 and 95.0 miles after his return this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He showed 96.2 miles in Game 3 of the World Series as a starter and 96.5 miles in Game 5 as a closer. There is a club watching him closely in the market. The Yankees watched Buehler's healthiest and best condition through the World Series.
The Yankees are mentioned as Buehler's destination. MLB Network reporter John Morosi said on the 23rd that Walker Buehler and the Yankees are interested in each other. The Yankees are paying attention to strengthening their rotation this offseason,' he said.
For the Yankees, who are focusing on Juan Soto, reinforcing starting pitchers is also a task. Snell also contacted the Yankees on the day he agreed to a contract with the Dodgers, but it was reported that an agreement was not reached. As a result, the Yankees plan to bring in top-class starters Corbin Burns or Max Fried. If the Soto problem is resolved, one of the two pitchers will surely be recruited.
Local media believe Walker was listed on the Yankees' envisioned 'Plan B'. If he fails to recruit Burns and Fried, he could be more active in Walker.
Regarding the size of Buehler's contract, FanGraphs predicted $2 million for two years, The Athletic $10 million for one year, MLBRR $15 million for one year, and ESPN $54 million for three years, respectively.
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jhno@sportschosun.com
