BREAKING: Padres sign former adversary and Dodger, RHP Walker Buehler
Credit: AP Photo
It needs to be repeated: A.J. Preller is never done tinkering with a roster.
Even when you think he is, he always seems to have something up his sleeve.
To add more depth to a rotation battle that has seen Griffin Canning, Marco Gonzalez, and Triston McKenzie added as well as former adversary (and Rockie) Germain Marquez, A.J. Preller turned to another player his team saw often; Walker Buehler.
A former ace for the team up north, Buehler was 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 13 starts against the Padres and had a 3.02 ERA over his first six seasons (2017 through ‘22).
After Tommy John surgery in 2023, however, Buehler took a massive step backwards and failed to live up to his previous glory.
He signed with the Red Sox before last season but was released in August after a subpar 5.45 ERA. He had better success at the end of the season with the Phillies, allowing only one run in two starts and one relief appearance over 13 2/3 innings.
Buehler will join a very crowded battle for the final spot in the rotation; with Michael King, Joe Musgrove, and Nick Pivetta already set, and Randy Vasquez likely taking the fourth spot, there are a lot of people competing for the fifth starter role.
Alongside the above-mentioned Marquez, McKenzie, and Canning, Buehler will also be competing with JP Sears and Matt Waldron. For a team and staff known for working miracles and getting the best out of pitchers, they will be tasked with revitalizing the career of one of their former biggest adversaries.
A Native San Diegan, Loren has spent his entire life not only as a fan but an active participant in San Diego’s sports world. In 2006 Loren joined two other die hard Charger fans to create Bolttalk, where Loren was a co-host and regular columnist from 2006 until the Chargers left in 2017. After that he started another podcast, The Grid Podshow, from 2020-2021 with his former co-host and colleague, speaking about the local sports community and popular culture.
When he’s not giving his opinion about San Diego sports, Loren is an adjunct professor at San Diego State and an attorney.