Dodgers Offered $20M to Retain Walker Buehler Amid Free Agency Shift

Walker Buehler, a key pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers and a 2024 World Series hero, declined a $20 million offer from the Dodgers to sign a one-year, $21 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, seeking a starting role that was unlikely to be available on the Dodgers' crowded staff. After a disappointing 2025 season with a 5.45 ERA, Buehler was released by Boston and subsequently signed by the Philadelphia Phillies, where he showed some improvement. The Dodgers' rotation remains strong despite Buehler's departure, with emerging pitchers and recent MLB-record performances during the NLCS. Looking ahead to free agency, Buehler, who will turn 32 next July, could attract interest from teams like the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals, both seeking to bolster their pitching staffs with experienced arms at a reasonable cost. Meanwhile, the Phillies are also considering their options with outfielder Harrison Bader, a defensive asset and strong right-handed hitter who impressed during his brief 50-game stint in Philadelphia and is evaluating a $10 million mutual option for 2025. Retaining Bader would complement the Phillies' left-handed heavy lineup and provide a balance of defense and offense in the outfield, particularly if they part ways with Nick Castellanos.