Why Walker Buehler makes sense for Cubs |
Dustin Riese
· · 2 hours ago
At this point in the offseason, all options should be on the table for the Chicago Cubs. With the offseason officially nearing the midway point, not only have the Cubs been quiet this offseason, but they have the most open roster space on their 40-man roster.
As much of a concern as that is, it also gives fans a glimmer of hope as they have plenty of flexibility to add to this roster. The only problem with that is the money aspect, as the Cubs and their front office still have a difficult time spending the money they should spend as a big-market team. That alone is why the Cubs always fall short on the big free agents: they simply don't put in the effort they should to improve this team. Whether it's the length of the contracts or even the money itself, the Cubs always seem to act differently than the rest of the league, which tends to haunt them. Knowing that, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Cubs will once again miss out on the big-ticket names in free agency, and for a team that could use a front-line starter, that is a tough pill to swallow. That doesn't necessarily mean the Cubs won't sign a starter altogether, as they may be content to add lower-end starters with high upside, since they can save money and wouldn't be tied to someone long-term should the deal not pan out. 31-year-old right-hander Walker Buehler is a name that has started to pop up, as he could be this year's version of a Cubs reclam project. When you look at Buehler as a whole, the body of work speaks for itself as he has gone from promising Ace to struggling starter in just a handful of years. A rash of injuries has played a role in that, but even if Buehler isn't the pitcher he once was, he has proven time and again that he is a valuable arm, especially late in the season. Coming off his first 10-win season since 2021, Buehler split time with the Red Sox and Phillies, going 10-7 across 24 starts. His 4.94 ERA was a concern, as was his massive increase in walks paired with a declining strikeout rate, but there is still plenty to love about Buehler as a reclamation arm. When Buehler broke into the league in 2017, there was a mystery about how he would pitch at the professional level. Sure, he was armed with a big 97 MPH heater, but a lot of people saw him more as a reliever than a starter when he first came to Los Angeles. Then came the 2019 season when he broke out on the mound, going 14-4 that season with a 3.26 ERA. Two years later, he was at his best, going 16-4 in 2021 with a 2.47 ERA as those two seasons accounted for 30 of his 57 career wins. To this day, Buehler has posted a 57-29 record with a 3.52 ERA, despite injuries, and has been a reliable arm. What makes him such a valuable asset for many teams is the body of work he has put together when the season is on the line. Take the postseason, for example, as Buehler has made 18 career postseason starts, going 4-4 with an ERA just over 3.00. That includes his 3-0 start in 2019 and 2020 when he had a combined 1.43 ERA in those seven starts. Gone are the days of him being a high-90s thrower, as the arm injuries have taken a toll on him, bringing his velocity down to around 94 MPH nowadays. He does still have one of the better breaking balls in the game, and should last season's lack of command be a blip on the radar, there is no reason why he can't get back on track. For a team looking to cut costs to try to improve their roster, Buehler is the perfect play for the Cubs, as he is a proven pitcher who knows he won't get a long-term deal. Considering the body of work from the postseason, someone will give Buehler a chance based on that alone. Should the deal work out in their favor, it will go down as an under-the-radar pickup rather than not working and having him get released by midseason.
