The Boston Red Sox are set to start pitching this winter, and no one knows at this point who they might have a chance of signing.

After an 81-81 season, the Red Sox are saying all the right things this winter. They believe they have a chance to win an American League East title in 2025, and they talk like they’re going to spend money like the Red Sox of old again to make that dream come true.

It can be difficult to sign a starting pitcher for a number of reasons, and the Red Sox haven’t given a nine-figure contract to a starting pitcher since Chris Sale’s extension in 2019. Whether or not they land the One of the big fish, Boston also needs to chase away some of the mid-market upstarts.

And among pitchers who don’t expect to earn nine figures, there’s no better choice for Boston than Walker Buehler of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Buehler, who was recently expected to get a two-year, $32 million contract, was one of Tim Crowley’s collaborators at NESN. best free agent pitches for the Red Sox in a recent article.

“Buehler would leave Los Angeles with a pair of championship rings and a history of performances under the brightest lights (including a brilliant World Series start against the Red Sox in 2018),” Crowley said.

“Buehler also recently had Tommy John surgery and turned 30 in July. That being said, the right-hander can deliver some high-end stuff. It’s not 100 mph like it used to be, but Buehler continues to attack with his fastball and provides a challenge to skilled lineups.

Buehler had a terrible regular season in his return from Tommy John, posting a 5.38 ERA and going 1-5 in 14 outings. But he’s been lights out in his last three outings, all on baseball’s biggest stage. Plus, not only was his stuff electric again, it had the Red Sox written all over it.

It’s not like Buehler can’t throw his four-seam fastball anymore, but his other pitches have become much more effective. His sweeper was unhittable in the postseason, and he also began favoring a cutter that earned him tons of weak contact against anxious hitters.

This new mix of pitches is a perfect fit for pitching coach Andrew Bailey and the Red Sox’s new pitching infrastructure, which also seems committed to helping older pitchers regain their velocity this winter. Buehler would not only revive his career in Boston, he would become an ace again.

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