Dodgers playoff standout could potentially jump ship for Padres | Sporting News

The San Diego Padres took the Los Angeles Dodgers to the limit in the National League Division Series, falling short in the full five games.

They won 93 games this season and secured the top Wild Card spot, defeating the Atlanta Braves to advance to the NLDS. They’ll certainly hope to get back at the Dodgers next season.

One way they could do that is by signing playoff standout Walker Buehler. Manny Randhawa of MLB.com listed Buehler is a candidate to jump ship for a division rival and had the Padres as the most likely suitor in that scenario.

“With the Dodgers signing [Blake] Snell to a five-year deal and expecting the return of injured starters Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, Buehler may be the odd man out. That could be good news for the Padres, who couldn’t quite catch the Dodgers in the NL West last season despite a late surge,” Randhawa wrote.

“Inserting Buehler, who proved to be very good for the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series and World Series after returning from injury, into a rotation with Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish and Michael King could make an already strong San Diego club even more of a threat to win its first division title since 2006.”

The Dodgers may already be the favorites in the division after signing Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract, but adding Buehler could help the Padres.

He was not given a qualifying offer after going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA during the regular season, so they wouldn’t have to give up a draft pick to sign him. San Diego also wouldn’t have to pay too steep of a price given his regular season struggles, though his postseason success should boost his market.

Along with Cease, Darvish, King and Joe Musgrove, Buehler could help form one of the deadliest rotations in all of Major League Baseball. The Padres would be adding a proven postseason pitcher too as they try to bounce back from their NLDS loss. 

It will be interesting to see if Buehler decides to bolt for San Diego after the Dodgers signed Snell.

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