Mariners GM says Taijuan Walker will not be traded

Unfortunately, it looks as though Walker, Texas Ranger will remain just a TV series for the foreseeable future.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said on Friday that the team will not be moving young right-hander Taijuan Walker at the trade deadline, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

#Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto: “We’re not currently discussing Taijuan (Walker) with anybody. He’ll stay right where he is.”

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2016

Walker, 23, has gone 4-7 this season with a 3.66 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 80 strikeouts in 16 starts. He still has yet to put everything all together, but Walker remains perhaps the most talented young pitcher in the entire Mariners organization.

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball had reported on Thursday that both the Cubs and the Rangers recently inquired about Walker’s availability. With Felix Hernandez now on the wrong side of 30, Walker appears to be the future ace in waiting of the Seattle staff, and the team was never going to just surrender him over willy-nilly.

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