Starting rotation reinforcements were the unexpected focus of the Boston Red Sox's 2025-26 offseason, something chief baseball officer Craig Breslow attempted last season with varying levels of success.
Breslow successfully traded for Garrett Crochet, then signed him to a six-year contract extension — the most obvious best move of his tenure so far. His other pitching addition, Walker Buehler, didn't pan out as well.
Buehler signed with the Red Sox for a fresh start after seven years with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and a long recovery from his second Tommy John surgery. His stint in Boston was short-lived, and he was a Philadelphia Phillie by season's end. He became a free agent after their postseason run, and has now returned to California to continue his career.
On February 16, right as players reported to spring training to ramp up for the season, Buehler signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. As is typical Red Sox luck, he's posted a solid spring with the Padres so far.
Former Dodgers, Red Sox starter Walker Buehler has posted a great spring training with the Padres
Over 11.2 innings of Cactus League play, Buehler has given up four runs on 10 hits with 13 strikeouts and four walks. Buehler's latest outing — a five-inning appearance on March 16 against the San Francisco Giants — was his best one yet. He didn't allow any runs on three hits, fanned seven batters and walked two.
The Padres may have an open spot in their rotation as Joe Musgrove's recovery from Tommy John surgery he had at the end of the 2024 campaign. Buehler's start against the Giants could make him a favorite for a rotation spot.
Buehler logged a 5.45 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 112.1 innings with the Red Sox last season. He needed a 15-day injured list stint in May and his command was questionable, with 84 strikeouts and 55 walks before the Red Sox DFA'd him on August 29. He was then picked up by the Phillies and let up one run on 10 hits over 13.2 innings at the end of the regular season, but never appeared for them in the playoffs.
The Red Sox could've used the best version of Buehler around the time they released him last season, in the throes of their playoff push. In September, Dustin May and Lucas Giolito fell injured and Boston was forced to call up top pitching prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early to get through the end of the season and the Wild Card round.
If Buehler could've performed as well as he has so far with the Padres, the Red Sox could've made good use of his years of playoff experience from his multiple trips through October with the Dodgers. Instead, he may finally rebound from UCL surgery with an inter-state rival on a much cheaper deal than Boston signed him on — because of course he will, Nick Pivetta has already done something similar.