The Philadelphia Phillies signed Taijuan Walker to a four-year, $72 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. The veteran was named to the All-Star Game with the New York Mets in 2021 and enjoyed another successful season in 2022, owning a 12-5 record and a 3.49 ERA.
The Phillies had high hopes for the right-hander and expected him to be one of the top back-end starters in Major League Baseball. He has been far from it.
Walker went 15-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 31 starts in his first season in the City of Brotherly Love. Phillies manager Rob Thomson decided not to use him during the team’s 2023 postseason run that ended one win shy of a World Series appearance. After publicly expressing his frustration with the decision, Walker put together one of the worst pitching seasons in Phillies history in 2024.
Walker finished the 2024 season with a 3-7 record and 7.10 ERA. Opponents hit .317 against him. He made 15 starts and was moved to the bullpen in September. The 32-year-old also battled injuries throughout the season.
Taijuan Walker’s offseason workout video will give Philly fans Ben Simmons flashbacks
Much to Phillies fans’ displeasure, Walker still has two years remaining on his contract with an annual salary of $18 million. He will be on the roster whether he deserves to be or not.
Walker recently posted a workout video on his Instagram story as he prepares for the 2025 season. Philadelphia sports fans will have nightmares as the video can’t help but remind them of former Sixers No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons and his viral video shooting three-pointers and mid-range jump shots, areas of his game that have plagued his career.
Simmons would continue to struggle shooting the basketball and was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets, becoming one of the biggest busts in franchise history. After going through that before, it’s hard for Phillies fans to have any hope that Walker will resurrect his career in Philadelphia.
The Phillies have been active in the pitching market this offseason. They signed former Toronto Blue Jays All-Star closer Jordan Romano and veteran Joe Ross to one-year deals. They also made a major trade with the Miami Marlins, bringing in 27-year-old left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo.
With the acquisition of Luzardo and top pitching prospect Andrew Painter waiting in the wings, Walker’s time in the Phillies’ starting rotation is all but over. He’ll have the opportunity to prove his worth in the bullpen as a likely long man with potential chances as a spot starter.