The Dodgers' former ace Walker Buehler has reached an agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies that makes him eligible for the postseason.

Walker Buehler closed out last year's World Series on the mound, aiding the Dodgers in winning the title. The Phillies are counting on this 31-year-old experienced right-handed pitcher to deliver a comparable performance this autumn.

Philadelphia announced today that they have inked Buehler to a minor league deal, qualifying him to pitch for the Phillies in the postseason. He has been assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Last winter, Buehler signed a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Red Sox, but his time in Boston was disappointing. In 23 games (22 starts), he posted a 7-7 record with a 5.45 ERA before being released by the left-handed pitching staff. After being demoted to the bullpen on August 22, a single relief appearance against the Yankees convinced the Red Sox that he would not be a meaningful part of their bullpen moving forward.

The Phillies will likely use Buehler as a starter once he returns to the majors, especially since Zack Wheeler was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and is out for the season, requiring surgery. Buehler could also serve as a long reliever or spot starter for the team.

Philadelphia’s current starting rotation consists of Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, and Taijuan Walker.

Buehler's 16.6% strikeout rate this season is a career low, while his 10.7% walk rate is the highest since his rookie year in 2017, when he pitched just 9.1 innings. His 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings, 4.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and the 22 home runs allowed in 2025 are all career-worst marks for the 31-year-old pitcher.

The Phillies only need to pay Buehler the league minimum salary for one month ($760,000), while the Red Sox will cover the remainder of his contract.

Today, the Phillies also completed another transaction by claiming left-hander Tim Mayza off waivers from the Pirates. The 33-year-old appeared in seven games for Pittsburgh this season, posting a 2.89 ERA over 9.1 innings pitched.