It was once 'Kershaw successor', but the Yankees have their eyes on it...Did you pay close attention to WS's runner-up
Nov 24, 2024
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MLB Network reporter John Morosi said on the 23rd (Korea time) 'Right-hander Buehler and the Yankees are interested in each other. The Yankees are paying attention to strengthening their rotation this offseason.
Buehler, who has been a Dodgers starter, took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning with a 7-6 lead in Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 31st, blocking one inning and enjoying the moment of becoming a major league champion.
The Yankees are interested in Buehler, who gave them the runner-up loss.
Buehler was once in the spotlight as the top starting pitcher in the Major League. Buehler, who made his major league debut in 2017, joined the rotation in 2018 and showed significant growth potential, with an 8-5 record and a 2.62 ERA. From 2019 to 2021, he continued his wild rise.
In 2019, he was 14-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 30 games, one win in eight games in 2020, a 3.44 ERA, and 207 ⅔ innings in 33 games in 2021, making him 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA and 212 strikeouts to rank fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
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Buehler, who teased the opening rotation this season, extended his rehabilitation for a month due to an elbow injury before the season, returned in early May, suffered a right hip injury after the game against Colorado on June 19, and was out of power again in mid-August, two months later.
In other words, the overall slump in 2024 was not avoided. But Buehler found himself in the postseason. In particular, it is analyzed that in the World Series against the Yankees, he pitched perfectly with two hits and no runs in six innings in two games, increasing his value in the FA market.
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. In other words, the Yankees watched Buehler's healthiest and best condition in front of their eyes.
The Yankees are looking for starters to form a five-man rotation with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Lewis Hill and Clark Schmidt. If you are a healthy Buehler, you may think you are inferior to the 3.4 starter.
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.
jhno@sportschosun.com
