Massive Intuition on The Padres’ perfect free agent target would come with sweet, sweet revenge on the Dodgers

The San Diego Padres could get the perfect revenge on their biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in free agency this winter.

The San Diego Padres fell just short of defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 postseason. They were the nearest challenger to the dominant Dodgers, who breezed past the New York Mets and New York Yankees in the NLCS and World Series, respectively.

Now, the Padres face an offseason to bolster their roster in hopes of dethroning the Dodgers in 2025. However, this will be a significant challenge, as the Dodgers are poised to improve simply by regaining their health. Los Angeles is set to welcome back Shohei Ohtani, Dustin May, and Tyler Glasnow to their pitching rotation, all fully healthy by opening day.

So, what strategies can the Padres employ to counter this?

Signing Walker Buehler tabbed as Padres ‘Perfect transaction’ this winter

The Padres are looking to bolster their rotation by adding a starting pitcher, ideally one with a high potential. Their current pitching staff includes Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, and Michael King. However, following Joe Musgrove’s arm injury during the postseason, San Diego recognizes the need for additional depth, preferably at a low cost.

ESPN insider Jeff Passan recently examined potential fits across the league and acknowledged the Padres’ need for a pitcher. He specifically mentioned Walker Buehler, the World Series hero from the Los Angeles Dodgers, as a notable option.

“Acquiring Sasaki would help alleviate a potential salary crunch, but if that doesn’t happen and they can’t complete a big-name trade, there are sufficient free agency options to properly fill out the rotation. One of them would only need to move 120 miles down the I-5,” Passan noted.

Buehler moving to San Diego would create quite a narrative. Transitioning from one fierce rival to another in the sport’s second-biggest rivalry would certainly add a dramatic twist. While many insiders anticipate that Buehler will return to the Dodgers for 2025, recent developments—like the Dodgers signing May to a one-year contract—make this outcome less certain.

If Buehler does end up elsewhere, joining the Padres could provide a fitting conclusion to the ongoing rivalry between the Padres and Dodgers. Although he faced challenges last year while recovering from another arm injury, Buehler showed improvement as the season progressed, which bodes well for a potentially successful 2025 campaign.