As the Los Angeles Dodgers deal with a mounting list of starting pitching injuries, could a reunion at the trade deadline make sense?
Two-time All-Star Walker Buehler left the Dodgers in the offseason when LA didn't see fit to tender him a qualifying offer. But with his new team, the Boston Red Sox, struggling to get above .500, many have speculated that a return to the Dodgers could be in the cards.
Buehler signed a one-year, $21 million contract with the Red Sox, and it's been a mixed bag so far. He went seven strong innings in his most recent start, but his season ERA still sits at 5.01, hardly an improvement from his 5.38 mark in the regular season last year.
However, Buehler is also known for showing up in the postseason, and that's all the Dodgers would have in mind when acquiring him. He's got a 3.04 career ERA in 94 2/3 playoff innings, and has only allowed one earned run in 19 1/3 innings in the World Series.
In a YouTube video published Saturday, content creator Jim Riley predicted that the Dodgers would indeed trade for Buehler at the Jul. 31 deadline.
"He (Buehler) pitched so well for them last October and throughout his career, prior to the injury," Riley said, referring to the surgery that cost Buehler the entire 2023 season. "We know what he can do on that stage with those lights shining down, in front of that crowd.
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"He's nails. And I want to get that back if I'm the Dodgers, especially if I am dealing with injuries still in that rotation."
The biggest issue here is the notion that the Red Sox will be willing to sell. Boston has won seven of its last nine games entering play on Sunday, including four straight over the rival New York Yankees, putting itself within one game of a Wild Card spot.
Dodgers fans would love to see Buehler back on the mound in Chavez Ravine come October, but there are a lot of dominoes that would need to fall into place.
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