The Philadelphia Phillies' healthy starting rotation is a strength at the moment. The trade for Jesús Luzardo further deepened the pitching depth chart, while there have been injuries to other teams' starting pitching before the start of the regular season.
The New York Yankees are coming up with other pitching alternatives before their regular season opener. Luis Gil suffered a right lat strain at the beginning of March, keeping him sidelined until at least June. Ace Gerrit Cole injured his right elbow. The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner will miss the 2025 season after having Tommy John surgery. Pitchers undergoing the procedure do not return for 14-18 months.
Could the Phillies strike a deal with the Yankees involving Taijuan Walker? New York's starting rotation could use another pitcher, and the right-hander's recent spring training outing versus Yanks boosted his stock with Opening Day less than two weeks away.
Taijuan Walker’s in-person audition for Yankees goes swimmingly
The Shreveport, Louisiana native, pitched four innings, his longest start during spring training, during his last appearance on March 14 against the Yankees. He made one mistake, giving up a two-run home run to Ben Rice, but was otherwise solid with just four hits, one walk and one strikeout. In three starts this spring, Walker has a 3.86 ERA and has allowed four earned runs in 9 1/3 innings pitched.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson has had plenty of positive comments about Walker during spring training. The veteran is focused on putting his nightmare 2024 season behind him. However, unless there's an injury to one of the Phillies' starters before their March 27 opener, he will not pitch in the rotation initially.
According to Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Thomson praised the work the 32-year-old has put in.
“I'm so proud of him, the work that he's put in," Thomson said, per Seidman. "I mean, he looks better than he did the year he won 15 games (2023) at this point in time. Just physically, his movements, athleticism. The ball's coming out hot and the splitter's fantastic. He's landing his breaking ball. He was good that year in spring training but I think he's better this year."
The Phillies will not release Walker because he is due $36 million over the next two seasons. They may cash in on his increased value this spring and trade him to a club needing another starter, such as the Yankees. He wants to be a starter again — he has been in a starting rotation for over 10 years with the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets and Philadelphia.
However, the Phillies could elect to hold onto him as insurance should their rotation suffer injuries. Ranger Suárez and Luzardo both missed time last year. Teams want a deep starting rotation entering a six-month regular season. The Phillies have that presently, and Walker gives them another option should he be needed.
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