The Phillies should kick the tires on Walker Buehler

Walker Buehler is back on the market. Yes, that Walker Buehler, the two-time All-Star, two-time World Series champ, and the guy who slammed the door for the Dodgers’ title run just last October.

The Boston Red Sox officially cut him loose Friday after concluding he couldn’t help their bullpen down the stretch. His 2025 numbers aren’t pretty (7-7, 5.45 ERA, 22 starts, one shaky relief outing), but the Phillies would be insane not to at least take a look.

The Case for Walker Buehler in Philly

This is not about his regular-season stats. This is about October. Walker Buehler is a playoff riser. His best work, his career-defining work, has always come on the biggest stage.

Just last year, he pitched five shutout innings in Game 3 of the World Series and then came back two days later to slam the door in the clincher. That’s rare stuff. That’s ice-in-the-veins pedigree.

Meanwhile, the Phillies’ rotation is limping toward October:

• Andrew Painter isn’t here.
• Taijuan Walker continues to be… Taijuan Walker.
• Aaron Nola is still trying to figure out which version of himself shows up week to week.

Yes, Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez are holding it down, and Jesús Luzardo has shown flashes, but Philly could use another veteran arm with postseason scars.

How Walker Buehler Fits…

Buehler doesn’t need to be the ace. Hell, he doesn’t even need to be 2019 Buehler. He just needs to be better than Jordan Romano, who is stealing a roster spot at this point.

If Buehler gives you five innings of competent October baseball, he’s already worth the experiment. He could slide into the “Walker role” (sporadic starts, swingman duties, depth insurance) and give the Phils a little margin for error.

Why Not?

Because the Red Sox bailed? Please.

Boston hasn’t exactly been a model of pitching development lately. Sometimes a guy just needs a change of scenery, and there’s no better reset button in baseball than Citizens Bank Park in October with 45,000 maniacs losing their minds.

Bottom Line

Walker Buehler isn’t the guy you sign to save your season in August. But he is the kind of guy you want when the lights get brightest. The Phillies don’t need him to be a Cy Young candidate, they just need him to be Walker Buehler for two weeks in October.

Bring him in. There’s zero downside. And there’s a chance for one hell of an upside.

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