Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler’s highly anticipated return from two surgeries in 2022 likely wasn’t the comeback he envisioned.
The two-time All-Star struggled mightily in 2024, pitching a 6.09 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings. He spent much of the summer on the injured list, trying to regain his early-career rhythm.
In a column published Wednesday morning by Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles TimesBuehler has flat-out shut down any rumors about his impending free agency.
“There’s not much to say,” the pitcher said. “I have a six-percent ERA. I’m trying to figure out how to get guys to the big leagues. You talk about free agency when you have a two-to-five ERA and you’re playing in the league.”
That was Buehler at one time; just three seasons ago, he was 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA and 212 strikeouts. He finished 2021 in the top five for Cy Young and the major league leader in ERA+.
Today, the Lexington, Kentucky native is simply looking to find a modicum of consistency with the only team he’s ever known.
“I really don’t care,” Buehler said once again about free agency. “To be honest, I’ve played here my whole career. I love playing here. We won the (2020) World Series here.”
