Padres sign former Dodgers champion, and Red Sox and Phillies bust originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Diego Padres are taking a low-risk flier on a familiar face and former rival, in hopes of strengthening their pitching depth ahead of the 2026 season.
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have agreed to a deal with former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler on a minor-league contract, adding the veteran to their starting rotation entering Spring Training.
“The Padres latest addition to the starting rotation competition is an old nemesis who has fallen on hard times. The team has agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with former Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler. The 31-year-old Buehler, once one of the top pitchers in the National League, has not been near the same pitcher since undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2023 season,” he wrote.
At his peak, Buehler was just as good as any starter in the game, playing a big role in the Dodgers’ championship runs and establishing himself as a big-game pitcher capable of front-line production.
However, injuries and his stint with the Boston Red Sox last year were something to forget. He eventually joined the Philadelphia Phillies last season after being released but only appeared in three games
Buehler joins San Diego as a reclamation project with upside. If healthy, he’ll provide depth behind the Padres’ established starters and could emerge as a decent option. If not, the financial risk is close to none, given that it’s a minor-league deal.
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