Yankees Rumors: Walker Buehler, NY Have 'Mutual Interest' in 2024 MLB Free Agency

There is "mutual interest" between free agent pitcher Walker Buehler and the New York Yankees, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Buehler last saw the Yankees on Oct. 30, when he capped off his seventh season with the Los Angeles Dodgers by pitching the final three outs in a World Series-clinching Game 5 win at Yankee Stadium.

The 30-year-old pitcher, who made his comeback last season from 2022 Tommy John surgery, is projected to make $3.9 million on his next deal by Spotrac.

Buehler was one of the best pitchers in the NL in 2021, when he recorded a 2.47 ERA through 33 starts and 207.2 innings pitched.

The Dodgers were left uncertain he would be able to return to his previous dominance after undergoing the second UCL surgery of his career in August 2022.

Recovery from the surgery held Buehler out until May 6, when he pitched four innings in a win over the Miami Marlins.

After up-and-down performances through the 2024 season and his struggles in a NLDS Game 3 loss to the San Diego Padres, Buehler turned out to be a key piece of the Dodgers' run to the World Series.

Buehler held opponents to zero combined runs during his starts in a NLCS Game 3 win over the New York Mets and a World Series Game 3 win over the Dodgers.

Two days after his final start of the season, Buehler took the mound in the ninth inning of the World Series Game 5 and clinched the championship for the Dodgers.

Whichever team signs Buehler in free agency will hope he is able to build on the improvements he made to his pitches in the postseason as he works his way back toward the quality of his 2021 fastball.

Should Buehler join the Yankees he would slot into a rotation currently led by Gerrit Cole. Should the Yankees need to send a starting pitcher out in order to fit a free agency addition like Buehler onto the roster, Marcus Stroman could be a trade candidate after rookie Luis Gil replaced him in the rotation during the postseason.