Walker Buehler joins Padres on minor-league deal

Veteran right-hander Walker Buehler agreed to a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres and will attend major-league camp on a non-roster invitation. The move places him among several recent low-cost acquisitions as the team evaluates rotation options.

Veteran right-hander Walker Buehler has agreed to a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres and will attend major-league camp on a non-roster invitation. He is a former frontline starter whose effectiveness has been diminished by injuries. Buehler earned two All-Star selections and finished in the top four for the Cy Young Award earlier in his career. He required a second Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair in 2022. Key details: - Walker Buehler signed a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres, according to league sources cited by The Athletic. - He will be in major-league camp on a non-roster invitation. - Buehler previously had two All-Star berths and a top-four Cy Young finish with the Los Angeles Dodgers. - He underwent a second Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair in 2022 and has not returned to his prior form. - Last offseason he signed a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, posted a 5.45 ERA, and was released in August before signing a minor-league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and making three big-league appearances in September. - The article notes he joins several recent low-cost acquisitions and will compete with other pitchers, including Marco Gonzales, Germán Márquez, Triston McKenzie, JP Sears and Matt Waldron, for a back-of-the-rotation spot. Summary: The signing adds another rotation option for the Padres as they continue a busy offseason of low-cost moves. Buehler will compete in spring camp for a back-end rotation role on a non-roster basis. The team's final roster and rotation decisions remain undetermined at this time.