Yankees showing interest in pitcher who shut them down in World Series

Walker Buehler threw the final pitch of the 2024 season, closing out the Dodgers’ victory over the Yankees in the World Series at Yankee Stadium.

There’s a chance that his next pitch will be in that same ballpark in a Yankees uniform.

The Yankees and the free agent right-hander have “some mutual interest” in each other, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner recently mentioned that the Yankees will be prioritizing pitching this winter. The Juan Soto sweepstakes are the top of their list, but bolstering the starting rotation and adding to the back of the bullpen are always a must.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough pitching,” Steinbrenner said. “We’re going to take a deep dive into the starting rotation, into the bullpen.”

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RESTORING THE GLORY

Buehler made his way back from his second Tommy John surgery in 2024, pitching poorly in the regular season. He posted a career-worst 5.38 ERA with a 1-6 record over 75 1/3 innings.

Those struggles continued into Buehler’s first outing of the postseason. He gave up six earned runs over five innings in a loss to the Padres in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, putting Los Angeles on the brink of elimination.

But Buehler finished his season on a high note, to say the least, with multiple clutch performances. He shut the Mets down for four innings in the third game of the National League Championship Series, tossed five scoreless in Game 3 of the World Series and then shut the door with a scoreless inning — and a save — in Game 5 two days later on short rest.

The Yankees could bet on Buehler’s upside — he’s only a few years removed from a fourth-place finish in the race for the NL Cy Young Award with L.A. — and sign him to a short-term deal. An alternative would be more pricey and more of a commitment, investing big in a top-tier starter in free agency like Corbin Burnes or Blake Snell.

Buehler, 30, is battle-tested from his years with the Dodgers and could be on track for a strong bounce-back season, distancing himself from his elbow surgery while working with the Yankees’ esteemed pitching department. They could package a short deal for Buehler with incentives, giving him a chance to earn more based on his performance. There’s obvious risk attached with signing a pitcher who has already had Tommy John surgery two times, though.

As of now, the Yankees have six starting pitchers, a surplus that was evident last month during their World Series run. Ace Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, who won the American League Rookie of the Year Award, figure to be locks in the rotation next spring. Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman are also under contract.