Padres Sign Walker Buehler to Minor League Deal

San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller continued reshaping the team's pitching depth on Monday by agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with veteran right-hander Walker Buehler, who will report to major league spring training camp in Peoria, Arizona, on a non-roster invitation.

The 31-year-old Buehler, a former first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015, brings a resume rich with postseason success but marked by recent injury setbacks. He debuted with the Dodgers in 2017 and emerged as a cornerstone of their rotation, posting a 3.02 ERA over his first six seasons through 2022. Buehler earned All-Star honors in 2021 and played pivotal roles in the Dodgers' 2020 World Series championship, including a save in Game 5 of the 2024 Fall Classic. However, a second Tommy John surgery in 2022 sidelined him for the entire 2023 season, and subsequent issues, including a flexor tendon repair, have diminished his velocity and command. His strikeout rate has dropped from 27 percent early in his career to 17.2 percent since returning, while his walk rate has climbed to 9.8 percent.

Entering free agency after the 2024 season, Buehler signed a...