The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off their World Series victory, have continued their aggressive offseason by signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a lucrative five-year, $182 million contract. This move adds yet another ace to their rotation, which already includes Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Los Angeles Dodgers Didn’t Force The Issue With Walker Buehler
However, the Dodgers’ decision to not extend a qualifying offer to free-agent pitcher Walker Buehler has raised some eyebrows. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, while Buehler was likely to accept the one-year, $21.05 million offer, he wouldn’t have done so happily. The Dodgers ‘didn’t want to force the issues’ and opted to let him test the free-agent market. As Rosenthal stated, “other teams might value Buehler more.”
Rosenthal also noted that the “qualifying offer would have damaged Buehler in the market, leaving him with almost no choice but to accept.” This decision could benefit Buehler, as it allows him to potentially secure a multi-year deal with a team of his choice.
By allowing Buehler to explore other options, the team may have opened the door for a potential reunion in the future. However, it also leaves them with uncertainty in their starting rotation, particularly if injuries continue to plague their pitching staff.
Buehler’s regular season was underwhelming, posting a 1-6 record and a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts. He was dominant in the postseason. He pitched 10 scoreless innings in his final three appearances, including a crucial ninth-inning save in Game 5 of the World Series.
