If the Red Sox decide to stop pretending they’re contenders and finally embrace the chaos, someone’s going to inherit the Walker Buehler experiment. Yes, that same Buehler—once an October assassin, now a statline horror show. His ERA is flirting with altitude sickness, but pedigree still sells in July. Somewhere out there, a front office will talk itself into fixing him. Baseball’s never been short on delusion or desperation.

Buehler is one of my favorite pitchers, but right now, I would not want him on my team. This season has been a spiral downwards for him, and there is nothing stopping the Boston Red Sox from trading him. And if the rumors are true, this is happening, and there are four important teams that are ready to get their hands dirty for him.

The Dodgers might want their old flame back, flaws and all. The Mets love shiny toys, even broken ones. The Cubs could use another fixer-upper to patch their playoff blueprint. The Padres? Chaos attracts chaos, and Buehler fits the bill. These four clubs all have the motive—and just enough madness—to make a move. But wanting and committing are two very different beasts at the trade deadline. Will curiosity outweigh caution—or will Buehler remain Boston’s beautiful mess?

Dodgers and Walker Buehler reunion on the cards?

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t strangers to second chances, especially when the name is Walker Buehler. Despite letting him walk without a qualifying offer, the interest now feels strangely poetic. With half their rotation on the injured list, need might outweigh nostalgia. And if nothing else, the front office knows exactly what buttons to push with Buehler.

Back in his glory days, Buehler was the Dodgers’ October ace with ice in his veins. From 2018 to 2021, he posted a 2.82 ERA and led postseason dogfights with surgeon-like precision. His fastball screamed, his cutter whispered, and hitters wilted. The 2020 World Series run doesn’t happen without him—period.

Now, the version of Buehler we see is more question mark than exclamation point. But the Dodgers specialize in rehab arcs and redemption stories—just ask Jason Heyward or Tyler Anderson. With the right tweaks and familiar environment, Buehler could find his groove again. And if he does, this deal becomes a postseason jackpot.

Adding Buehler would deepen a rotation currently duct-taped together by rookies and relievers. He doesn’t need to be an ace—just serviceable depth with upside. If the coaching staff unlocks even 70% of old Buehler, the gamble pays off. And honestly, no team polishes rust into gold quite like the Dodgers do.

It’s not romance—it’s roster math, and the Dodgers are fluent in both languages. If anyone can resuscitate Buehler’s career with a playoff twist, it’s the team that built his legend. This isn’t a feel-good reunion; it’s a calculated risk with October upside. And in L.A., they don’t just bet on talent—they bet on memory. Just don’t act surprised when Buehler’s back on the mound, breaking hearts and bats alike.

Will the Mets be able to bring the best out of Walker Buehler?

The New York Mets aren’t shy about chasing big names, even when the shine has faded. Walker Buehler, despite his dreadful 2025, still carries postseason pedigree few can match. With Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea on the mend, rotation depth is a ticking clock. Buehler could be a timely dice roll—one that fits Steve Cohen’s appetite for flash and flair.

Yes, Buehler’s ERA is currently auditioning for a horror film, but his upside refuses to disappear. The Mets have pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, known for sculpting struggling arms into assets. With tweaks and trust, Buehler could rediscover some of his late-October magic. In a weak NL Wild Card race, that might be all the Mets need.

Of course, the warning signs flash brighter than a Citi Field scoreboard on fireworks night. Buehler’s fastball velocity is down, his Stuff+ is poor, and Statcast hates his profile. The $11 million left on his contract won’t help either. And don’t forget—no one in that Mets clubhouse has shared a locker room with him before.

Still, if the Mets are dreaming big, Buehler makes a weird kind of sense. He’s cheap in trade capital and expensive in hope. If the risk hits, they get October magic; if not, they just burn money—again. In Flushing, that’s practically tradition.

For a team that’s mastered chaos, Buehler might just be their next beautiful gamble. The upside is real, the risk is Mets-sized, and the timing feels like fate or madness. Hefner has worked miracles before—but Buehler’s no routine fixer-upper. Still, if the Mets want October noise, they’ll need to roll louder dice. Just don’t act shocked when the bullpen phone rings… and it’s Buehler asking for one more shot.

Walker Buehler-Chicago Cubs, a good fit?

The Chicago Cubs are flirting with contention, but their rotation feels one injury away from collapse. With Justin Steele out until 2026 and Shota Imanaga just back from injury, stability is fragile. Buehler, despite his ugly 2025, could offer veteran innings with upside. He won’t be the ace, but he could be the glue.

Buehler doesn’t bring comfort stats—he brings haunted velocity and playoff scars that still matter in October. The Cubs need more than arms—they need experience, grit, and a guy who’s survived pressure cookers. Chicago hasn’t shared a clubhouse with him, but they don’t need a friend—they need a fighter. Even a wounded one with something to prove.

The red flags are real and waving: his ERA is ballooning, his fastball is crawling, and his Stuff+ screams mediocrity. At $11 million, he’s a pricey patch for a leaky boat. The Cubs could chase flashier names with healthier arms and shinier stats. But pedigree has value, even if it’s cracked.

If the Cubs are serious about October, they can’t afford to shop only in the safe aisle. Buehler is a gamble—but one with a postseason résumé worth betting on. A deep rotation wins playoff series, not just headlines. And in Wrigleyville, desperation sometimes makes the best scout.

Playoff scars don’t fade—they sharpen, and the Cubs could use a few more in their dugout. Buehler won’t light up Statcast, but October doesn’t care about spin rate—it cares about guts. If Chicago wants to be safe, it’ll land in a safe third-place finish. But if they want chaos with credentials, Buehler’s their man. Just remember: sometimes the broken ones know how to win when it matters most.

Walker Buehler might fix the bullpen for the Padres

The San Diego Padres are no strangers to bold moves, and Walker Buehler fits their chaotic portfolio. With Joe Musgrove out for the year and Darvish and King limping on timelines, the rotation is duct tape and dreams. Buehler may be struggling, but his history at Petco Park (2.67 ERA) suggests comfort. Plus, imagine the irony: a former Dodger chasing October in San Diego.

Right now, Buehler’s numbers look like a typo—6.29 ERA and a fastball velocity in decline. But postseason experience doesn’t grow on trees, and the Padres are desperate for it. Even 80% of vintage Buehler could stabilize a battered pitching staff. And hey, nothing lights a fire like six games against your former team.

The warning signs are flashing neon. His Stuff+ rating has tanked, Statcast is drenched in blue, and his confidence looks bruised. With $11 million left on the deal, this isn’t a small-market move. San Diego would be betting big on vibes, memory, and a good pitching coach.

Still, this is the Padres—a team built on bets and boldness, not caution and comfort. Buehler doesn’t need to be perfect—just better than the current Band-Aids. If San Diego’s front office truly believes in upside, he’s worth the flyer. And let’s be honest: in this rotation, even a shaky experience is better than no experience at all.

If “chaos but make it competitive” had a mascot, it might just be the 2025 Padres. Buehler’s flaws are real, but so is San Diego’s desperation for innings that don’t implode. The bullpen’s overworked, the rotation’s on life support, and October doesn’t wait for health updates. Buehler might not fix everything, but he could at least stop the bleeding. And in Petco, that’s worth more than another low-leverage reliever with a clean Statcast page.

Buehler may be broken, but in July, broken pitchers still find believers with playoff dreams. Four teams, four different brands of desperation—and one messy, high-upside right arm to go around. His stats may scare off the cautious, but front offices don’t win rings by playing safe. If someone’s going to fix him, it’ll be a team comfortable living on the edge. Just don’t be shocked when Buehler’s bad elbow ends up in a champagne-soaked October clubhouse anyway.