The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost World Series hero Walker Buehler to the Boston Red Sox, according to several reports Monday morning.

Buehler and the Red Sox are reportedly in agreement on a one-year, $21.05 million contract.

The deal is subject to a physical and includes incentives that could increase its total value, per Russell Dorsey of Yahoo! Sports.

Buehler, 30, was one of the most intriguing free agents this offseason. Known as one of the top starting pitchers in the game from 2018 to 2021, he faced challenges after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2022. Upon returning to the Dodgers, he posted a 5.38 ERA across 16 starts for the worst seasons in his career.

However, he showed up in the postseason securing the final out of Game 5 against the New York Yankees.

It’s an interesting deal for Buehler consider the price tag matches the Qualifying Offer that the Dodgers opted not to give him. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal had previously reported that Los Angeles “did not want to force the issue with Buehler.”

“With all the money the Dodgers are spending, why didn’t they just extend a qualifying offer to free-agent right-hander Walker Buehler,” questioned Rosenthal. “In part because Buehler likely would have said yes to the one-year, $21.05 million arrangement — and perhaps not all that happily.”

“The qualifying offer would have damaged Buehler in the market, leaving him with almost no choice but to accept,” Rosenthal added. “The Dodgers, as a team that will pay the luxury tax, only would have received a pick after the fourth round if he rejected,” wrote Rosenthal. “This way, Buehler can negotiate a multiyear deal with the team of his choosing. Conceivably, that team could be the Dodgers. But other teams might value Buehler more.”

Once the Dodgers agreed to a five-year deal with left-hander Blake Snell, the writing was on the wall for Buehler. There was simply no future for him in Los Angeles.

Now, he joins a Red Sox rotation that has been in rebuild mode. This offseason, Boston acquired Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in a blockbuster deal and then agreed to terms with free agent Patrick Sandoval. The Red Sox will also have right-handers Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Lucas Giolito in the mix, with Giolito also working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Buehler’s standout season came in 2021, following his key role in helping the Dodgers secure their first World Series title since 1988.

That year, he posted a 16-4 record with a 2.47 ERA over 207.2 innings, tallying 212 strikeouts against 52 walks. His performance earned him a fourth-place finish in a competitive NL Cy Young race.

Boston would love to have that version of Buehler as he represents a new team for the first time in professional career.