The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a familiar position: armed with a strong regular-season roster but still short of the high-end pitching depth that defines October success. This lack of movement is reminiscent of the Dodgers deals (not) done ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline in July, as Sunday was the last day for teams to add players to their organization if they want them to be eligible for their postseason roster. That void was underscored this weekend when former Dodger Walker Buehler, released by the Boston Red Sox on Friday, signed with the Philadelphia Phillies instead of returning to Los Angeles.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the right-hander finalized a deal with Philadelphia on Sunday, making him postseason-eligible. The move ends speculation about a potential reunion with the Dodgers, who have opted to stand pat rather than gamble on Buehler’s postseason pedigree.
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Buehler’s release capped a turbulent stint in Boston. He went 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 23 appearances (22 starts), numbers that closely mirrored his struggles in 2023 with Los Angeles after returning from Tommy John surgery. Despite the inconsistency, the 31-year-old still carries a reputation as a pitcher who elevates his game in October. Across his career, Buehler has posted a 3.04 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 94.2 playoff innings.
That ability was on full display just last fall. After slogging through the regular season with a 5.38 ERA, Buehler flipped the switch in October, tossing 10 scoreless innings across the NLCS and World Series. His most memorable moment came in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, when he volunteered to close out the ninth inning after the Dodgers had exhausted their bullpen.
The thought of bringing him back in a relief capacity gained traction among some insiders. MLB writer Dusty Baker argued the Dodgers should “bring back Walker Buehler and tell him to prepare to be a one inning lockdown bullpen piece. Almost like it worked before.” Yet management ultimately passed, citing a healthy rotation and bullpen reinforcements already in place.
Instead, it will be Philadelphia betting on Buehler’s October upside. The Phillies, who entered play Sunday at 79-57 with a 6.5-game division lead, clearly believe his postseason track record outweighs his regular-season volatility.
Meanwhile, Boston’s decision to cut ties was framed as both pragmatic and disappointing. “It’s tough, but this is where we’re at,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters after the move. “I know it didn’t go his way, or our way. He expected more, and we expected more. … I still think he has stuff in the tank.”
For LA, the optics sting. The franchise once again heads into September without a clear ace behind its frontline arms. They chose not to re-engage on a pitcher who helped deliver their most recent championship, and now there is a very real possibility they will see Buehler again — wearing Phillies pinstripes in a high-stakes October series.
Whether Los Angeles was right to walk away or merely too cautious could be determined in the weeks ahead. For now, the Phillies took the gamble. The Dodgers did not. And once again, LA looks a contender with everything but the extra arm that has so often made the difference in October.