Walker Buehler

San Diego Padres, Starting Pitcher
Age: 31y-7m-20d (Jul 28, 1994)
Exp: 7.168 Years
Country: US
College: Vanderbilt (TN)
Drafted: Round 1 (#24 overall), 2015
Agent(s): Excel Sports Management

2025-2025 free-agent-street

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $760,000
Average Salary:
$760,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
6.168
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2025-2026 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $21,050,000
Average Salary:
$21,050,000
Signing Bonus:
$3,050,000
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
6.168
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2024-2024 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $8,025,000
Average Salary:
$8,025,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
5.168
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2023-2023 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $8,025,000
Average Salary:
$8,025,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
4.168
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2021-2022 Arbitration Extension

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $8,000,000
Average Salary:
$4,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$2,000,000
YOS @ Signing:
2.168
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2020-2020 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $603,500
Average Salary:
$603,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
1.168
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2019-2019 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $570,000
Average Salary:
$570,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.168
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2018-2018 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $545,000
Average Salary:
$545,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.026
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2017-2017 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $535,000
Average Salary:
$535,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2015-2015 Signing Bonus

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,780,000
Average Salary:
$1,780,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
Spotrac Premium Tools
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Seasons

7.168 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$52,831,729

Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Service Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2015 20
-
Signing Bonus
$1,780,000
$1,780,000
2017 22
0
Active
$75,998
$1,855,998
2018 23
0.026
Active
$512,750
$2,368,748
2019 24
0.168
Active
$570,000
$2,938,748
2020 25
1.168
Active
$223,519
$3,162,267
 Champion
2021 26
2.168
Active / arbitration-avoided-numbers-exchanged
$4,750,000
$7,912,267
 All MLB (1st)
2022 27
3.168
Injured / Arbitration 2 Bypassed
$6,250,000
$14,162,267
2023 28
4.168
Injured / Arb Avoided
$8,025,000
$22,187,267
2024 29
5.168
Active / Arb Avoided
$8,025,000
$30,212,267
 Champion
2025 30
6.168
Retained
Buyout
Active
$19,508,333
$3,000,000
$111,129
$49,720,600
$52,720,600
$52,831,729
Total      
$52,831,729
$49,720,600
$52,720,600
$52,831,729
Total
$52,831,729

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
9 $26,432,267 $3,780,000 - $30,212,267
1 $18,000,000 $3,050,000 $1,458,333 $22,508,333
1 $69,462 - $41,667 $111,129
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2015
20
$1,780,000
$1,780,000
$1,780,000
2017
22
$75,998
$75,998
$1,855,998
2018
23
$512,750
$512,750
$2,368,748
2019
24
$570,000
$570,000
$2,938,748
2020
25
$223,519
$223,519
$3,162,267
2021
26
$2,750,000
$2,000,000
$4,750,000
$7,912,267
2022
27
$6,250,000
$6,250,000
$14,162,267
2023
28
$8,025,000
$8,025,000
$22,187,267
2024
29
$8,025,000
$8,025,000
$30,212,267
2025
30
$15,000,000
$3,000,000
$69,462
$3,050,000
$1,458,333
$41,667
$19,508,333
$3,000,000
$111,129
$49,720,600
$52,720,600
$52,831,729
Total
$44,501,729
$6,830,000
$1,500,000
$52,831,729
$49,720,600
$52,720,600
$52,831,729
Total
$44,501,729
$6,830,000
$1,500,000
$52,831,729

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
9 $26,432,267 $3,780,000 - $30,212,267
1 $18,000,000 $3,050,000 $1,458,333 $22,508,333
1 $69,462 - $41,667 $111,129

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2025 BOS Apr 29, 2025 - May 20, 2025 Shoulder
2024 LAD Jun 19, 2024 - Aug 14, 2024 Hip
2024 LAD Mar 28, 2024 - May 06, 2024 Elbow (Tommy John)
2023 LAD Mar 30, 2023 - Oct 01, 2023 Elbow (Tommy John)
2022 LAD Jun 11, 2022 - Oct 05, 2022 Arm
2020 LAD Sep 09, 2020 - Sep 24, 2020 Hand
2020 LAD Aug 27, 2020 - Sep 02, 2020 Finger
2018 LAD Jun 29, 2018 - Jul 13, 2018 Shoulder
2018 LAD Jun 12, 2018 - Jun 28, 2018 Shoulder
  • Feb 16, 2026 Signed a 1 year $1.5 million minor league contract with San Diego (SD)
  • Sep 12, 2025 Contract purchased by Philadelphia (PHI)
  • Sep 01, 2025 Signed a minor league contract with Philadelphia (PHI)
  • Aug 29, 2025 Released by Boston (BOS)
  • Dec 23, 2024 Signed a 1 year $21.05 million contract with Boston (BOS)
  • Jan 11, 2024 Signed a 1 year $8.025 million contract with Los Angeles (LAD), avoiding arbitration
  • Jan 13, 2023 Signed a 1 year $8.025 million contract with Los Angeles (LAD), avoiding arbitration
  • Feb 11, 2021 Signed a 2 year $8 million contract with Los Angeles (LAD), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 05, 2020 Signed a 1 year $603,500 contract with Los Angeles (LAD)
  • Mar 05, 2019 Signed a 1 year $570,000 contract with Los Angeles (LAD)
  • Jul 16, 2015 Signed a contract with Los Angeles (LAD)
  • Jun 18, 2015 Drafted by Los Angeles (LAD): Round 1 (#24 overall)
  • Jul 10, 2012 Unsigned by Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Jun 10, 2012 Drafted by Pittsburgh (PIT): Round 14 (#436 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2025 PHI 26 24 130 73 69 61 92 22 10 7 0 126.0 4.93 1.52 -0.06
2024 LAD 16 16 89 52 45 28 64 16 1 6 0 75.3 5.38 1.55 -1.29
2023 LAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.00 0.00
2022 LAD 12 12 67 30 29 17 58 8 5 3 0 65.0 4.02 1.29 0.34
2021 LAD 34 33 149 61 57 52 212 19 16 4 0 207.7 2.47 0.97 7.14
2020 LAD 8 8 24 18 14 11 42 7 1 0 0 36.7 3.44 0.96 0.35
2019 LAD 30 30 153 77 66 37 215 20 14 4 0 182.3 3.26 1.04 2.26
2018 LAD 24 23 95 43 40 37 151 12 8 5 0 137.3 2.62 0.96 3.58
2017 LAD 8 0 11 8 8 8 12 2 1 0 0 9.3 7.71 2.04 -0.22

Calculated Market Value

$10.0M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 1 years, $10,016,318
  • Avg. Salary: $10,016,318
  • MLB Rank: 180
  • SP Rank: 61

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: -
  • Avg. Salary: -

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Walker Buehler to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Chris Sale 2 $38,000,000 $19,000,000 34
Alex Cobb 1 $15,000,000 $15,000,000 37
Nick Martinez 1 $21,050,000 $21,050,000 34
Tyler Glasnow 5 $136,562,500 $27,312,500 30
Averages 2 $52,653,125 $20,590,625 33.8

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Buehler's current age (31), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
5 $93,575,470 $18,715,094

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Buehler statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GS/Yr, IP, K/9, BB/9, ERA, WHIP, FIP, WAR

Player GS/Yr IP K/9 BB/9 ERA WHIP FIP WAR
Chris Sale
2022-2023
 11.00 4.92 9.45 2.06 3.74 1.09 3.10 2.57
Alex Cobb
2023-2024
 15.50 5.41 6.65 1.92 3.32 1.18 3.65 3.05
Nick Martinez
2023-2024
 12.50 2.43 7.99 2.20 3.27 1.14 3.56 7.41
Tyler Glasnow
2022-2023
 11.50 5.51 12.82 2.74 2.44 0.99 2.94 3.49
Average 12.63 4.57 9.23 2.23 3.19 1.10 3.31 4.13
Walker Buehler
2024-2025
 20.00 4.79 7.11 3.86 5.16 1.53 5.60 -1.54
Pct Change 58.35 4.81 -22.97 -73.09 -61.76 -39.09 -69.18 -137.29
Median Prime % Change -50.43%
Average Prime % Change -42.53%

Calculated Market Value: Walker Buehler

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
1 years, $10,016,318 $10,016,318
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