Feb 18, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler (21) during spring training photo day. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
After a cup of coffee late in 2025, the Phillies were interested in bringing back Walker Buehler. But the two-time All-Star instead chose to take a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres. He explained why in a new interview.
Buehler told Tom Krasovic of The San Diego Union-Tribune (H/T Alex Coll) that while the Phillies were "definitely in the mix" for his services, the Padres made more sense as a landing spot, he thought.
"We felt the opportunity here was better for me and the ability to start," Buehler said. "Obviously, they have a lot of starters in Philly, and a big-boy prospect (Andrew Painter) that's coming up and I think is going to make the team. The opportunity wasn't just kind of where I want it to be, and I'm definitely excited to be part of this team."
Buehler is correct that Painter is likely to be in an Opening Day starting rotation that also consists of Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker. Zack Wheeler will likely open the season on the injured list as he continues to work his way back from the thoracic outlet decompression surgery he had last September. But Wheeler is progressing in a manner where it seems reasonable to think he could be back by early May, if not sooner.
With those six names, the Phillies' starting rotation has about as high of a ceiling as any in the sport. Still, there's more uncertainty with this group than in the past. Wheeler is coming of a pair of surgeries and will turn 36 in May. Nola posted a 6.01 ERA in 17 starts last season. Painter has never pitched in the majors. If one or two things go wrong in the starting rotation, the Phillies could get thin on depth pretty quickly.
Buehler is far from a certain thing at this stage of his career, as he has a 5.10 ERA across 201.1 innings over the last two seasons since returning from his second Tommy John surgery. But he posted a 0.66 ERA and 3.72 FIP in 13 2/3 innings pitched last year after joining the Phillies, and you know he won't be afraid of any moment. If the Phillies end up needing someone outside of that top six to make, let's say, eight starts this season, Buehler probably would have been a better option than Alan Rangel, Bryse Wilson or Jean Cabrera, among current internal options.
The thing for Buehler, though, is he doesn't want a best-case scenario where he makes a few starts and then ends up either in the bullpen or being designated for assignment. Even if the Phillies had given him the chance to start in April and utilized Walker out of the bullpen, Buehler almost certainly would have been the odd man out once Wheeler returns.
This is the predicament the Phillies find themselves in right now. They could use another depth option, but they can't guarantee much to that person. That makes getting anyone with options to sign on the dotted line very difficult.
