by The Mets, who just strengthened their starting rotation by signing Frankie Montasinterested in right-handed free agent Walker Bühlerreports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
According to The Post, Buehler’s market is “deep.”
Buehler is the only pitcher available this offseason via free agency who has legitimate ace potential, but who almost certainly won’t need a long-term deal. It seems likely he will sign a one- or two-year deal (potentially the second year being a player option) in order to rebuild his value following Tommy John surgery and a difficult regular season in 2024.
One plus regarding Buehler is that the Dodgers did not extend him a qualifying offer, meaning any team that signs him won’t lose a draft pick to do so.
Buehler’s struggles during the 2024 regular season were pronounced, as he posted a 5.38 ERA (5.54 FIP) and 1.55 WHIP in 16 starts over 75.1 innings while striking out 64 – a career-low 7.6 per nine.
A closer look shows that Buehler’s stuff ranked at the bottom of the league. During that time, many of his advanced stats (including xERA, xBA, chase rate, and whiff rate) were among the worst in baseball.
But as the Dodgers’ championship progressed, Buehler began to look like the best version of himself, culminating with 4.0 shutout innings against the Mets in the NLCS and 6.0 scoreless innings against the Yankees in the World Series. In those two series, he allowed just five hits, walked four and struck out 13.
When Buehler is right, he is the No. 1 starter. From 2018 to 2021, he had a 2.82 ERA (3.16 FIP) and a 0.98 WHIP while striking out 620 batters in 564.0 innings – a sub-10 strikeout rate .0 for new.
And even though Buehler struggled last season in his first year back after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2022 (his second TJS, having also undergone the procedure in 2015), there are reasons to believe he can return to form in 2025 as he enters his age 30 season.
With Sean Manaea, Luis SeverinoAnd José Quintana free agents, the Mets rotation still needs serious help even after signing Montas.
Kodai Senga and Montas will enter spring training as rotation locks, with David Peterson perhaps near a lock.
Other rotation options on the 40-man roster include Paul Blackburn (who is recovering from spinal surgery), Taylor MegillAnd José Butto (if the Mets move him back from the bullpen to the rotation).
