4 World Series participants the Cleveland Guardians should consider in free agency

3. Walker Buehler - Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Pitcher

No one should be surprised that another starting pitcher is making an appearance on this list, but Dodgers starter Walker Buehler should be someone for the Cleveland Guardians to consider in free agency.

Buehler has hit a few bumps over the past few years after being one of the game's best pitchers from 2018-2021. A down year in 2022, followed by a missed season due to Tommy John and then another down year in 2023, has resulted in Buehler being someone who may need to take a one-year prove-it deal to reestablish his value. This is exactly the type of pitcher the Guardians have targeted previously, including multiple times last season. Going down this same road again would not be surprising in the least bit, considering the way the Guardians prefer to operate.

Like most players that have undergone Tommy John, there is some risk that comes with taking a chance on them, but Buehler has a little more riskiness than the usual post-TJ arm. Buehler's 2022 procedure was his second, and for someone who was at the time under 30, that is concerning. Not helping matters were his struggles in 2024 when he finally returned to action, making the prospect of him returning to his previous form seem a little less likely. With that being said, Cleveland's previous success with pitchers who have had Tommy John could bring the best out of Buehler and see his career get back on track.