The Phillies have launched veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker, per a membership announcement. Philadelphia additionally optioned right-hander Alan Rangel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and recalled right-hander Nolan Hoffman. It appears there’ll be one other transfer earlier than right now’s sport to fill the twenty sixth spot on the roster.
Walker, 33, is within the ultimate season of a four-year, $72MM contract that didn’t pan out in any respect because the group hoped. It was a surprisingly massive contract on the time he signed the deal. Walker was recent off a strong 29-start displaying with the Mets (3.49 ERA, 157 1/3 innings), however his charge stats didn’t assist that stage of run prevention. Walker had an honest season as an innings consuming, back-of-the-rotation starter in 12 months one of many contract (4.38 ERA, 172 2/3 frames), and he posted strong outcomes between the rotation and bullpen in 2025 as effectively (4.08 ERA, 123 2/3 innings).
The opposite two seasons of the contract have been a nightmare. Walker was one of many least-effective pitchers within the sport in 2024, yielding a 7.10 earned run common throughout 83 2/3 innings. This season has gone even worse. The veteran righty has pitched 22 2/3 innings and been shelled for 25 runs (23 earned) on a whopping 36 hits and 11 walks with solely 17 strikeouts. He’s working with the second-worst velocity of his profession — forward of solely that disastrous ’24 marketing campaign — and lacking bats at his lowest ranges ever. Between these pink flags and the 9.13 ERA, the Phillies have been left with little alternative however to maneuver on as they attempt to crawl out of an 8-16 gap and snap a woeful eight-game shedding streak.
The Phillies will stay on the hook for the remainder of Walker’s $18MM wage this season. He’s nonetheless owed a bit greater than $15MM of that sum. Any group that indicators Walker would owe him solely the prorated league minimal for any time he spends on mentioned membership’s main league roster or injured listing. That quantity could be subtracted from what the Phillies owe, however they’re paying the overwhelming majority of the tab even in a best-case state of affairs.
Ace Zack Wheeler will return to the Phillies’ rotation this weekend, although it’s anybody’s guess how he’ll carry out on the heels of a process to handle thoracic outlet syndrome. He’s posted a 5.85 ERA in 20 minor league rehab innings, albeit with extra encouraging charge stats: 28% strikeout charge, 6.1% stroll charge, 45.1% ground-ball charge. Wheeler will be a part of final 12 months’s Cy Younger runner-up, Cristopher Sánchez, longtime prime prospect Andrew Painter, and veterans Aaron Nola and Jesús Luzardo within the Philadelphia rotation.
All informed, Walker finally ends up with 402 2/3 innings of 5.12 ERA ball as a member of the Phillies. He now turns into the second high-priced veteran whose contract will successfully be eaten by the Phillies this season. Outfielder/designated hitter Nick Castellanos was additionally lower free from the ultimate season of a five-year, $100MM contract simply previous to spring coaching. He’s since signed with the Padres, for whom he’s batting .146/.196/.208 in 51 plate appearances. As with Walker, the Phillies are paying the overwhelming majority of Castellanos’ $20MM wage. The Padres solely owe him the prorated minimal for any time spent within the majors.
