The Philadelphia Phillies are pulling the plug on one notable member of their rotation.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson revealed to reporters on Thursday that the team is moving right-hander Taijuan Walker to their bullpen. Walker will now be serving as a long man for the rest of this season but is still expected to compete for a rotation spot in 2025, Thomson adds.
The 32-year-old Walker was an All-Star in 2021 with the New York Mets and subsequently signed with the Phillies on a four-year, $72 million deal before the 2023 season. But Walker has been an abject nightmare this year, going 3-6 with a rotund 6.50 ERA over 14 starts for the team. He also owns a 1.64 WHIP with 2.3 HR/9 and just 6.8 K/9 (all of which are full-season career worsts for Walker).
At 78-55 this year, the Phillies do have the starting pitching depth to survive a Walker demotion. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Cristopher Sanchez all continue to have strong years, 2024 NL All-Star Ranger Suarez recently got back from injury, and right-hander Tyler Phillips is waiting in the wings for a call-up. That said though, this is another rough turn of events for Walker, who also failed to show up for the Phillies last postseason after signing his big contract with them.
