The San Diego Padres are taking a low-risk chance on a familiar National League West arm, agreeing to a minor-league contract with right-hander Walker Buehler, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The former Dodgers standout will report to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee and attempt to pitch his way into the big league rotation.

For Buehler, the opportunity comes with added intrigue. The two-time All-Star spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, emerging as one of baseball’s premier postseason performers and a key figure in the franchise’s championship window.

Now 31, he returns to the division as a member of the rival Padres, setting up the possibility of facing his former club multiple times if he earns a roster spot.

Buehler’s Dodgers tenure was defined by dominance when healthy. From 2018 through 2021, he developed into a frontline starter, highlighted by elite swing-and-miss stuff and October poise.

However, a second Tommy John surgery in 2022 sidelined him for the entire 2023 campaign and altered the trajectory of his career.

Though he showed flashes upon returning, including a memorable appearance to help close out the 2024 World Series, consistency proved elusive.

A one-year free agent deal with the Boston Red Sox last season did not produce the hoped-for resurgence. Buehler struggled to a 5.45 ERA across 23 outings before his release in late August.

He later signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and finished the year on a positive note, allowing just one run over 13 2/3 innings, though diminished strikeout numbers underscored lingering concerns.

His fastball velocity has dipped from its peak, and opponents have fared far better against his four-seamer in recent seasons.

Command has also wavered, contributing to a career-high walk rate in 2025. Even so, Buehler still averages roughly 94 mph and brings extensive postseason experience — traits that make him an intriguing depth option.

San Diego’s rotation picture remains fluid behind established arms, and Buehler will compete alongside several veterans for a back-end role.

Because he signed a minor-league deal with full-service time, he’ll have opt-out opportunities if he’s not added to the active roster.

For the Padres, the move carries minimal financial risk.

For Buehler, it offers something more compelling: A chance to rediscover his form in the same division where he once ruled — and perhaps to write a new chapter against the team that drafted and developed him.

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