The Los Angeles Dodgers love recycling old storylines almost as much as they love stockpiling aces. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani carry enough star power to light up Hollywood, yet the front office seems tempted by a fading plot twist. Because nothing screams championship ambition like revisiting a pitcher whose recent performances aged worse than milk in July. Sometimes, nostalgia isn’t a strategy—it’s just another fastball down the middle.
The Boston Red Sox pulled the plug on Walker Buehler, and nobody blames them. He was having a tough time in Boston, and with them looking to get to the postseason, they cut him. But with the undying love Los Angeles has for him, rumors are starting to pop up about a move to the Dodgers. And this might be more of a problem than a solution.
In a recent live stream by the Dodgers Nation YouTube channel, the host Doug McKain talked about the rumors of Buheler coming back to the Dodgers and why this might not be a good move. He said, “We got the breaking news before the game that he had been released… Last year in the regular season with the Dodgers, he was not effective… What role does he have on this team? What starter is he better than? None of them… If you throw him into the Dodgers bullpen, he wouldn’t even want that.”
Few could have predicted Walker Buehler’s disappointing 2025 campaign, given his pedigree. Signed by the Boston Red Sox for $21.05 million, he stumbled with a 5.45 ERA across 22 starts. His inability to complete five innings in nine outings and surrendering four-plus runs eight times magnified concerns. Once a Cy Young contender, Buehler now embodies inconsistency, injury baggage, and a version of himself fans hardly recognize anymore.

Despite his struggles, nostalgia runs deep, and many Dodgers fans yearn for a reunion with their October hero. His World Series magic, including a save on short rest last season, still glimmers in collective memory. With two championship rings and a 0.47 ERA across four Fall Classic appearances, he feels irreplaceable. Yet sentiment often clouds judgment, and Walker Buehler’s recent Red Sox collapse underscores the dangers of banking solely on past glories.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, a reunion may prove more burden than blessing, with postseason stability hanging by a thread. Their rotation already boasts Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell, Kershaw, and even Ohtani, leaving little room for failed experiments. Adding Walker Buehler risks unsettling roster balance and complicating bullpen roles when chemistry is paramount. With October approaching fast, Los Angeles needs certainty, not a risky reclamation project whose 2025 struggles scream louder than memories.
Nostalgia may tug at Dodger Stadium’s heartstrings, but championships aren’t won on memories and montages. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani need arms that dominate now, not ghosts of past Octobers. The Dodgers can’t afford to treat their rotation like a reunion tour when every inning matters. Bringing Walker Buehler back would be less about strategy and more about sentiment—and baseball’s postseason doesn’t reward sentimental storylines, only the ones that win. In addition to looking towards a possible championship-winning postseason run, the Dodgers could also be looking at a move for the future at the same time.
The Dodgers Don’t Need Another Pitcher, but They Might Fancy a Reliable Batter
Los Angeles Dodgers fans have grown accustomed to watching their front office chase every edge, from stockpiling arms to tinkering with rotations. Yet even a team crowned World Series champions can misread the map. While whispers about Walker Buehler returning might raise eyebrows, the real question is simpler: when a lineup stutters, no pitching addition can hide the glaring need for a dependable bat to anchor the offense.
The Dodgers have struggled to generate consistent offense at second base, exposing a glaring weakness in an otherwise star-studded lineup. Their production at the position has hovered around a disappointing .643 OPS, leaving the team vulnerable against divisional rivals. Despite a dominant rotation and championship pedigree, the Dodgers cannot rely solely on pitching to mask offensive inconsistencies. Without a reliable bat, their future ambitions risk being derailed by underwhelming plate performances.
This gap has naturally turned attention toward Ketel Marte, whose talent and versatility make him an ideal target. Recent tension in Arizona, stemming from Marte’s temporary absence after a burglary, could make him surprisingly more accessible. The Dodgers possess the league’s top farm system, offering ample assets to negotiate a deal without sacrificing long-term depth. Adding Marte would not only patch a hole but elevate lineup balance, sustaining championship-level competitiveness for the next few seasons.

Acquiring Marte in the offseason would symbolize both strategy and ambition, reinforcing the Dodgers’ win-now philosophy without compromise. His presence at second base would stabilize the lineup while delivering consistent offensive production when most needed. With the stakes high to capitalize on the momentum of their last year’s World Series win, Marte’s bat could transform scoring struggles into decisive advantages over rivals. Ultimately, this move would exemplify the Dodgers’ ability to combine opportunity, talent, and timing for maximum impact.
If the Dodgers truly want to maintain their dominance for a long period of time, patching holes with pitching theatrics won’t suffice. Walker Buehler whispers aside, Los Angeles needs tangible firepower in the lineup to build on their championship-winning momentum. Adding Ketel Marte wouldn’t just fill a spot—it would signal the front office’s audacious, calculated hunger for dominance. In a league where championships are won at the plate, the Dodgers’ next big move might just remind everyone that even kings can upgrade their crown.
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