That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: Which free agent starters can fill the rotation

By George Stockburger

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – MARCH 10: Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) pitches during the MLB Spring Training baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 10, 2018 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, AZ (Photo by Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – MARCH 10: Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) pitches during the MLB Spring Training baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 10, 2018 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, AZ (Photo by Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Taijuan Walker

Drafted in the first round by Seattle in 2010, Taijuan Walker was one of the more promising pitching prospects to come through the minor leagues in recent years.

Shipped to Arizona in 2016 for Mitch Haniger and future Phillies Jean Segura and Zac Curtis, Walker hasn’t had the career many hoped to see. MLBPipeline ranked Walker as the fourth-best prospect in baseball in 2012, ahead of Gerrit Cole and Zack Wheeler.

In his first 11 games over two big league seasons, Walker had a 2.89 ERA, a 2:1 K/BB ratio, and an ERA+ of 128. He flirted with several no-hitters while with the Mariners despite dealing with a foot injury that sent him to the injured list multiple times.

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In his first three seasons with the Diamondbacks Walker had a 4.10 ERA, struck out more than three times as many batters as he walked, and allowed about eight hits per appearance. In 2018 he underwent Tommy John surgery after three games, which limited him to only one inning in 2019. Since the start of the 2018 season Walker has appeared in only 14 big league innings for Arizona before they non-tendered him.

Walker would be a tremendous bounce-back candidate, if healthy, and could be a one-year deal candidate for Philadelphia, and they could throw in an option year to go with it. Sliding him in as the fifth starter behind Nola, Wheeler, Arrieta, and Eflin would give the Phillies a promising staff with Velasquez and Pivetta waiting in the wing.

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