Padres Fans Rally Behind Walker Buehler’s Bid for Roster Spot

The Friar Faithful have made their voices heard, and they’re ready to embrace Walker Buehler as part of the San Diego Padres. In this week’s Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball, a significant majority of fans expressed their enthusiasm for the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher to secure a spot on the roster and earn a place in the rotation.

Manny Machado recently highlighted the Padres’ acquisition of Nick Castellanos, noting that the team was effectively landing a $20 million player for the league minimum. A similar sentiment applies to Buehler, who, while not quite at the league minimum, is set to earn more than that if he makes the San Diego roster.

After signing a one-year free agent deal with the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2025 season worth $21.05 million, Buehler’s time in Boston was cut short. He was released on August 29 after failing to complete the season, only to find a new opportunity with the Philadelphia Phillies shortly thereafter, joining them on August 31 for the league minimum to finish the year.

Now, Buehler is looking to make an impact with the Padres after agreeing to a minor league contract that does not guarantee him a spot on the major league roster. However, if he can prove himself worthy of a rotation role and break camp with San Diego, he stands to earn $1.5 million in 2026, along with potential performance bonuses of up to $2.5 million. These figures are impressive for a pitcher who boasts two World Series titles and two All-Star selections.

If Buehler can recapture his previous form, he could seamlessly integrate into the Padres’ rotation and quickly win the hearts of the Friar Faithful.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.