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Dodgers Make First Big Decision of the Offseason on Walker Buehler
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Dodgers Make First Big Decision of the Offseason on Walker Buehler

The Los Angeles Dodgers did not extend a qualifying offer to starting pitcher Walker Buehler. Fabian Ardaya from The Athletic. The deadline for extending qualifying bids is Monday, and each qualifying bid will sell for $21.05 million this year.

A qualifying offer would give the Dodgers the opportunity to acquire a draft pick if Buehler leaves and signs with another team. Dodgers will still have a chance to sign Buehler during free agency.

Buehler enters free agency after a heroic offseason run for the Dodgers. Buehler came into October coming off the worst regular season series of his career. Buehler returned to the field for the first time in nearly two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 16 starts.

If the Dodgers’ starting rotation had been healthy, there was a chance Buehler might not even start in the playoffs, but injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, and Clayton Kershaw left the Dodgers with just three starters, including Buehler .

Buehler made his first postseason start in rough fashion, allowing six runs in the second inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. After that disastrous inning, Buehler did not allow a single run the rest of the season. In his lone start during the NL Championship Series, he held the New York Mets scoreless through four innings. During his World Series start, Buehler allowed no runs in more than five innings.

In the final game of the World Series, with the Dodgers narrowly ahead over the New York Yankees, Buehler came close and secured the championship victory by getting the final three outs.

Buehler has previously stated that he would love to remain a Dodger if the team wanted to keep him. Buehler had never previously signed a long-term deal with the Dodgers. His last three contracts were each one-year, $8.05 million deals. If Buehler wants more and the Dodgers don’t want to pay him what he wants, he may have to go elsewhere.

Accordingly Bob Nightengale for USA TodaySome MLB executives were reportedly “somewhat surprised” that the Dodgers did not extend a qualifying offer to Buehler after his postseason performance.

The Dodgers had extended a qualifying offer to Hernández after he hit a career-high 33 home runs with the team in 2024. Hernández previously signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers in January.

While Hernández would certainly decline the qualifying offer, the Dodgers could still re-sign him to a free-agent deal. Otherwise, they will receive a draft pick if he signs elsewhere.