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New York Times

Dodgers welcome back Walker Buehler, who finds himself in a familiar place with Boston

BOSTON — The image is now permanently cemented in Los Angeles Dodgers lore: Walker Buehler, arms spread wide, rectifying the most trying months of his career and joining the rare club of pitchers who have recorded the final out to clinch a World Series. It was Buehler's years with the Dodgers in a nutshell: flashes of brilliance, alongside a kind of journey and brash cockiness that endeared him to a city. Advertisement That moment has replayed at Dodger Stadium almost every day this season. It's likely been viewed hundreds of thousands more times in homes across Los Angeles. Buehler said he's only seen it a couple of times, though. The moment that, as Clayton Kershaw said then, etched Buehler 'in Dodger glory and royalty forever,' is a cool memory, but that's about it. 'I don't think I really got super obsessed with it,' Buehler said. 'That moment means a lot to all of us, that we're a part of it, and the city and the fans that come out every day for us there.' The coolest thing about it, Buehler said Friday, is sharing that exclusive club with Josh Sborz, a former minor league teammate, fellow Dodgers draftee and a groomsman in his wedding. The baseball from his final strikeout of Alex Verdugo has since sold for $414,000, with the proceeds benefitting those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires this past winter. If he stayed with the Dodgers that winter, Buehler may have induced one of the loudest roars from the crowd when the players received their World Series rings in April. Instead, Buehler collected his second ring on Friday afternoon, donning a green Boston Red Sox cap as he tries to right the ship again. Walker's new ring? Yeesh. 🔥 — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 25, 2025 Buehler and the Dodgers had some dialogue this winter, with one report from AM 570's David Vassegh saying that Los Angeles, which didn't offer Buehler a qualifying offer, gave him a one-year offer of essentially equal value. Buehler wanted to come back and considered doing so. 'I think it would have been hard to leave that for anywhere except for (Boston),' Buehler said. Then the Dodgers went out and signed two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Afterward, Buehler took a one-year, $21.05 million deal from the Red Sox (the same as the qualifying offer would have been). Advertisement 'I think it was an interesting situation,' Buehler said. 'I think there's obviously two sides to that situation. We had conversations about it, we talked through it. And they went and signed guys that they wanted to sign. And I signed with a place that I wanted to play. It kind of it what it is.' The Red Sox checked boxes for Buehler. A passionate fan base and a franchise seemingly geared up to win. He'd grown accustomed to pitching in five different postseasons with the Dodgers and crafting a lore of dominating in the fall. It was a chance to take the strides he'd made last October after struggling in his return from a second Tommy John surgery and translate them into a full season. The situation gave him a chance to reestablish the value he had when he was earning Cy Young votes in his 20s. Most of that has come to pass. The Red Sox entered Friday at 55-49 and in postseason position. Buehler and his wife, McKenzie and daughter, Finley, have loved the Boston area. 'I'm enjoying the s—t out of it,' Buehler said. 'Our fans here are here long and loud. Kind of similar in a lot of ways to (Los Angeles). It's been a really fun year, outside of some of the playing stuff for me.' However, Buehler's first full season back from his second elbow surgery didn't start as planned. Through 17 starts, he's sporting a 5.72 ERA that ranks sixth-worst among pitchers with at least 80 innings under his belt this season. After an ugly start in Anaheim this season, he called his performance 'embarrassing.' His numbers are on par with how he did last summer with Los Angeles, when he left the team for a period in hopes of reworking his mechanics. It paid off that fall. Three strong starts and a memorable relief appearance got him where he is now. He's hoping he can conjure up some magic again, delivering seven strong innings and allowing just two runs in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies. 7 innings of absolute work. — Red Sox (@RedSox) July 22, 2025 'I think everyone kind of knows I'm on a one-year contract, so you never know what's going to happen down the road,' Buehler said. His next start is Sunday — against the Dodgers. That will stir different emotions than Friday, when he received his ring and exchanged pleasantries with his former teammates. A group of Dodgers fans touring Fenway Park began cheering Buehler's name. His presence, in a lot of ways, is missed. Advertisement 'He means a lot to me personally,' Roberts said. Buehler spent Thursday with Kershaw and Kershaw's son, Charley, in the Boston area before stopping by the ballpark to see his old teammates. It's hard to call this weekend closure, Buehler said, because the door was closed long ago. Still, Sunday will be a different experience. 'I think that's the way it should be,' Roberts said. 'I'm looking forward to facing him.' Buehler, in typical fashion, did some mild chirping. 'The goal,' Buehler said, 'is go and to get one over on them.'