The struggling Taijuan Walker keeps giving the Philadelphia Phillies headaches. He has become a lightning rod of controversy, and it's not going to get any better after his start on Wednesday against the Houston Astros.
Walker took the mound in the series finale, a series the Phillies hoped to sweep and keep their positive momentum rolling. The veteran right-hander put a stop to that, going six innings but allowing six runs on a season-high 13 hits. He walked one and didn't register a single strikeout in the Phillies' 10-0 loss.
This most recent start might be Walker's swan song with the Phillies. At least, that's what one former team executive thinks.
Former Phillies GM says Taijuan Walker's time is almost up
On the latest The Phillies Show podcast, former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. gave some insight into how he thinks the current front office is thinking about the situation they find themselves in with Walker's immense struggles this season — especially recently.
"No question about it, had not had that contract right now, he's still owed like $40 million or something crazy like that, and so that's a very, very difficult thing to walk away from," Amaro said about the Phillies front office looking at their options with Walker. "That said, I would not be surprised if at some point, and I don't know if they've gotten to that breaking point yet, it's getting close I think, of either put him in the pen which he will not be effective in and he will not enjoy and or just letting him go."
Those are really the Phillies' only two options left at this point. Walker just turned 32 years old, and while that is no way over the hill for a major league pitcher, it might be for him. The regression monster seems to have come for the right-hander, as his now 6.50 ERA would suggest.
Under the hood, his Stuff+ numbers have declined in each of his two seasons since signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies. The velocity of his four-seamer, sinker and splitter have all been in a steady decline since 2021. Do the Phillies realistically think he will improve as he closes in on 34 in a couple of years?
Phillies still owe Taijuan Walker more than $36 million
Despite manager Rob Thomson's conviction that Walker is still worth running out there every fifth day, saying that he has been impressed with the velocity, it feels like he's just trying to make the best of the situation the front office has handed him. Deciding if managing partner John Middleton and the ownership group will flush more than $36 million is a decision well above Thomson's pay grade.
"That's a really tough thing to ask John Middleton to eat, $40 million is $40 million," Amaro added. "That said, if they truly don't think that going to be a viable major league pitcher in any role then it's possible, anything's possible. You have to produce in this game. We've done it before, not with numbers this big, but the organization's done it before."
Amaro referenced outfielder Geoff Jenkins and right-hander Adam Eaton, who the Phillies released before the 2009 season despite owing them $8 million and $9 million, respectively. Those situations don't come close to the $18 million per year that the Phillies owe Walker over the next two years, plus the remainder of what he's owed this season.
But like in 2009, the Phillies are gearing up for what they hope is another shot at the World Series. It's hard to take that goal seriously with an underachiever like Walker weighing down the rotation. And at this rate, he won't get a sniff of the postseason, just like last year.
Is Taijuan Walker's time up?
Walker's 14th start of the season on Wednesday might have been the last chance he'll get to prove his worth, or he could get one more.
"I think he might get one more shot at it, maybe," Amaro said before Wednesday's start. "... I'm not sure they're at the breaking point yet on Taijuan, but I will tell you that if he comes out and pitches the way he pitched his last time or his last two times, I think that might be it for him."
That's what Walker did against the Astros. Yes, it's a good lineup he was facing, but there has been nothing to indicate he can compete against any level of MLB lineup this season.
It should be noted that Amaro was careful to clarify that he hasn't spoken to anyone in the front office about what he calls a very sensitive issue. But it's definitely an issue, and it's one that he says they won't stand for.
Nor should they.