3 trade deadline options for Phillies to replace Taijuan Walker in the rotation

If the Phillies decide to move off Walker in the rotation, here are three possible solutions they could target at the trade deadline.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde
Chicago White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde | Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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Erick Fedde, CWS

Before you guffaw and completely discount this option, just know that this isn't the same Erick Fedde who spent six seasons with the Washington Nationals getting blown up by MLB hitters. The 31-year-old right-hander remade himself in the KBO in 2023.

Through 17 starts, he's carrying a 5-3 record for the hapless Chicago White Sox with a 3.23 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, numbers that would fit right in on the Phillies pitching staff.

Through his first six seasons in the majors, he had a 5.41 ERA, with a 17.5 percent strikeout rate and a 9.5 percent walk rate. This year, he's punching out hitters at a 22 percent rate, has lowered his walk rate to 6.1 percent and minimizes damage with a 47.8 percent ground ball rate. For comparison's sake, Cristopher Sánchez has a 59.5 percent rate, while Ranger Suárez has a 53.8 percent rate this season.

The expected stats back up Fedde's results this season. He has a 3.47 xERA and a 3.67 xFIP, which aligns nicely with his actual 3.57 FIP.

He'd be a much more affordable option than either Tyler Anderson or Yusei Kikuchi. The Phillies would take on the remainder of his $7.5 million salary this season and be on the hook for another $7.5 million in 2025 as insurance if it takes Andrew Painter some time to ramp up.

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