Dodgers $32 million World Series hero predicted to bolt to Braves in free agency image
For a few years, the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers were on fairly equal footing for the tile of Best Team in the National League.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, the Dodgers took home their second World Series in five years this season, so the crown is fully LA’s at this point. But the Braves could strike back with a couple of big additions this winter, and one of those additions could be a longtime Dodgers star.
Atlanta seems to be bracing itself to lose two-time All-Star starting pitcher Max Fried in free agency this winter. The blow would be softened if they could land another two-time All-Star, though, and one recent prediction sees them doing exactly that.
Walker Buehler, the Dodgers’ World Series hero who picked up his first-ever save in the Game 5 clincher against the New York Yankees, is now a free agent. Because he had a 5.38 ERA in the regular season, Buehler still projects as a bargain signing, even though he has the capability to be a star once again.
Andy McCullough of The Athletic recently predicted that the Braves would sign Buehler to shore up their rotation ahead of a pivotal 2025 season.
“Atlanta will need to replace Max Fried and Charlie Morton in the starting rotation,” McCullough said.
“It won’t take a long-term deal to land Buehler, who starred in October for the Dodgers after a difficult regular season as he returned from his second Tommy John surgery. Buehler lives for the postseason, and the Braves expect to be there.”
The 30-year-old Buehler has a career 3.27 ERA and 47-22 record, so the Braves would have to hope he reverts to that form after struggling in 2024 coming off Tommy John surgery. And in the playoffs, he’s always been money, posting a 3.04 career ERA in 94 1/3 innings.
Buehler was projected for a two-year, $32 million contract by Tim Britton of The Athletic earlier this month, which could be more than $100 million less than whatever Fried signs for. If he carries his playoff success over into Atlanta, that would be a massive caper for the Braves.
