Dodgers $10 million World Series hero could dump L.A. in favor of Braves this winter | Sporting News
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
It has been a few years since the animosity really intensified between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. But it could easily do so again.
In 2020 and 2021, the Dodgers and Braves squared off with a World Series on the line, with each side winning one and going on to win the whole thing. The two best teams in the National League for the past half-decade are also the only two NL teams to win rings since 2019.
Now that the Dodgers have added another ring in 2024, L.A. unquestionably has the upper hand. But the Braves could steal back the upper hand by doing something vicious–signing a Dodgers World Series hero in free agency.
Resurgent Dodgers starter Walker Buehler is getting set to hit the open market just days after picking up his first and only save–regular season or postseason–in Wednesday’s World Series clincher. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller named the Braves as one of the top destinations for Buehler this winter.
“After getting Chris Sale to turn back into the ace he was six years ago while also somehow turning Reynaldo López into an All-Star, perhaps Atlanta will be looking to capture that lightning in a bottle once again in the form of Buehler,” Miller said.
“With both Charlie Morton and Max Fried slated for free agency and Spencer Strider possibly out for the first half of next season following his UCL surgery in April, Atlanta will be in the market to acquire at least one starting pitcher this offseason.”
Though he had a 5.38 ERA in 14 starts in the regular season, Buehler completely turned his free-agent prospects around with a brilliant October. After throwing nine straight scoreless innings in his NLCS and World Series starts, closing out Game 5 was just the cherry on top for the two-time All-Star.
The Dodgers have a bevy of injured pitchers coming back in 2025, including that Shohei Ohtani fellow. That opens the door for a team like the Braves to swoop in, sign Buehler to a one-year “prove it deal,” and help him fully regain the form he flashed during the playoffs.
