Cubs Should Pursue Walker Buehler Following Red Sox Release
The Red Sox released Walker Buehler on Friday, marking the end of a disappointing time in Boston. Alex Cora had recently moved the righty to the bullpen, but he only made one appearance in relief before his release.
Red Sox have released Walker Buehler, sources say.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 29, 2025
Buehler has had a rough 2025 campaign, his first away from Los Angeles, after signing a one-year deal worth $21.05 million. He posted a 5.38 ERA in 2024, but only logged 75.1 innings due to injury. Buehler missed all of the 2023 season due to Tommy John Surgery, and then went on the shelf with a hip injury in June.
This season hasn’t been much better, although he’s only been on the injured list once. He’s struggled to keep runners on the basepaths, with a 4.41 BB/9 that ranks third-worst in baseball (minimum 110 IP). Opponents have a .285 batting average against Buehler this year, putting him in the 10th percentile.
These stats don’t sound promising, but the upside is high enough for the Cubs to take a chance on him. Don’t forget, the Red Sox are paying his salary as of function of releasing him. That means the Cubs are only on the hook for a prorated portion of the major league minimum ($760,000). Buehler was on the Cubs’ radar this past offseason, but ultimately got out of Jed Hoyer’s price range.
His postseason performance will be the main reason a team picks him up, with one moment from last year sticking out above all others: His strikeout of Alex Verdugo to win the World Series.
THE DODGERS ARE THE 2024 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! 👏 pic.twitter.com/kVtjJjltRb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 31, 2024
Buehler has a 3.04 ERA in his postseason career, including 114 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2021 with a 2.47 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. The Cubs’ pitching lab has focused on bounceback potential quite often, trying to unlock what has previously been seen from their different arms. Tommy Hottovy and Tyler Zombro have proven that they can turn a player’s career around and unlock things that were thought to be a figment of the past.
Walker Buehler, Sinker (21 inches of run) and Sweeper (23 inches of break), Overlay pic.twitter.com/AJj5K8hoJp
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 21, 2025
If it doesn’t work out during the last month, the Cubs can easily cut him loose before the playoffs. The Cubs have a 99.7% chance of making the playoffs as of this publication, so, while they still need to keep winning, giving Buehler an audition makes perfect sense. Their starting rotation is already severely depleted, and a high-ceiling option just fell into their laps.
