WS-winning pitcher who left for the farthest place, decided to re-enter the FA at BOS for 30.7 billion won a year
Dec 24, 2024
|
|
ESPN agreed on the 24th (Korea time) 'Right-hander Buehler agreed to a one-year, $210.5 million (about 30.7 billion won) contract with Boston. He was sent to a team that wanted to boost its competitiveness by strengthening its starters as a pitcher who grabbed the final out count of winning this year's World Series,' the report said.
Coincidentally, $21.05 million is the same amount as QO this year. Buehler will also receive a $2.5 million bonus on top of that.
LA fans are sad to say goodbye to the franchise star, and Boston fans are glad to hear that an ace-class winning pitcher is coming. Boston is the furthest place in LA (4193km) out of 29 clubs.
Buehler joined the Dodgers as the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 draft. Since he was a rookie, he has been in the spotlight by showing off his next-generation ace qualities behind Clayton Kershaw with various pitches such as fastballs, cutters, changeups, and sinkers in his late 90s.
|
After the shortened season in 2020, he pitched 207 ⅔ innings in 33 games in 2021, marking 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA, 212 strikeouts, and 0.968 WHIP, and ranking fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
The Dodgers considered Kershaw's ace at last, but the joy didn't last long. He was sluggish with an ERA of 4.02 in 12 games the following year, and eventually couldn't overcome his elbow injury and lay on the operating table. After receiving Tommy John Surgery in August 2022, he returned in May this season after taking a full season off in 2023, but was sluggish with a 1-6 record and a 5.38 ERA in 16 games, including a two-month break due to a hip injury.
However, the Dodgers included him in the postseason rotation. This is because he pitched well with five hits and one run in five innings in his last appearance of the season and did not have a proper starting lineup. Buehler lost Game 3 of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres with seven hits and six runs in five innings, but he contributed to the Dodgers' victory by pitching a total of five hits and no runs in three appearances.
He blocked Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Yankees with two hits and no runs in five innings, and in Game 5, he took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning with a 7-6 lead and won the honor of the winning pitcher with two strikeouts and no runs in one inning.
However, the Dodgers did not even offer QO to Buehler, who has qualified as an FA. In fact, he announced his separation, but it is said that negotiations have not been carried out properly so far.
|
Earlier, Boston acquired left-hander Garrett Crochet through a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and brought left-hander Patrick Sandoval from the FA market with an economic price of $18.25 million for two years. On top of that, Buehler was secured and the league's strongest starting rotation was established.
Crochet is likely to start the season next year with five players from Buehler, Hauc, Brian Beyo and Cutter Crawford.
jhno@sportschosun.com
