The Atlanta Braves have featured almost 20 different pitchers in the starting rotation this season. It's been tough to watch, but injuries forced the team into this position. They've done their best to find pitchers on the waiver wire to eat innings, but that hasn't worked out.
Cal Quantrill's recent failure against the Phillies is just another example of this strategy not working. Unfortunately, the only option they have is to let him go and hope to find a better arm available. There is a new option available on the market thanks to the Red Sox.
Walker Buehler agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million deal with the Red Sox this season. Boston hoped he would bounce back from a rough 2024, where he posted a 5.38 ERA. However, that hasn't happened for the former Dodgers ace, and Boston released him. It's hard enough to return from one Tommy John surgery, but two is almost guaranteed to be a struggle. Braves fans are learning this with Spencer Strider this year.
The Boston Red Sox released veteran right-hander Walker Buehler.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 29, 2025
Adding Walker Buehler feels like a move that is very on brand for the 2025 Braves
Buehler's not been able to find the success he had during the playoffs last year in LA, where he posted a 3.60 ERA. With Atlanta's need for inning eaters and previous interest in Buehler, it feels like they may as well kick the tires on him.
He has pitched in 112.1 innings (22 starts) this season with a 5.40 ERA. Buehler has averaged just 94 mph on his fastball and has issued 55 walks to 84 strikeouts. This equates to a 16% strikeout rate and almost 11% walk rate.
Those aren't the kind of stats that make you want to bring a pitcher aboard. The biggest thing Atlanta has needed is someone to eat innings and save the bullpen. Buehler is averaging 4.87 innings each start. That's not exactly what the Braves are looking for, but they could choose to give him a shot. He can't be much worse than what they're already putting on the field.
Buehler isn't the only veteran available; the Pirates surprisingly DFA'd lefty Andrew Heaney a couple of days ago. Oddly, they chose to hold onto him at the trade deadline only to let him go in August. But no one claims to understand why the Pirates do what they do.
Another wrinkle for Buehler is that the Braves would be on the hook for the remainder of his salary this season. Assuming they could afford it, I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the roster in the next couple of days to replace Quantrill.