Taijuan Walker (Image Source: Getty Images)
Taijuan Walker never had a perfect 2024 season for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies put up a hard fight, but Walker’s pitching was subpar. Walker failed to come through when they needed him the most.
Walker was once the go-to pitcher for the Phillies, but his 2024 performance has given him a bad outcome. The 32-year-old finished his regular season with a miserable 7.10 ERA and a 3-7 record. The Phillies lost 70 percent of the games pitched by the righty. Walker’s journey has been rough, mainly because he has been dealing with injuries.
However, for any team, it’s all about performance. The Phillies President Dave Dombrowski portrayed an uncertain future with Walker. Undoubtedly, Walker had the worst season of his career. Phillies fans were unhappy with his performance, and his spot on the starting rotation is questionable.
“We’ve got four solid starting pitchers that we like. I really don’t have a fifth starter right now. I hope Taijuan Walker will be better. But we’re not going to anoint him on that. We have some other arms that we like in the organization. We think Abel can jump at any time,” Dombrowski said in a recent interview via the Athletic.
Philadelphia Phillies Could Place Taijuan Walker On The Trade Block
Dave Dombrowski (Image Credit: Getty Images)
After a disappointing season, Taijuan Walker’s journey with the Phillies is pretty doubtful. Walker might be placed on the trade block as the team might consider better options. For the next two years, Walker is supposed to get $36 million from the Phillies, but they could work their way out for a trade.
The Phillies have Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zack Wheeler as their top four. Adding another top pitcher to their starting rotation will give them a perfect run for the 2025 playoffs.
Sadly, Taijuan Walker might not be on that list. If the Phillies get a better deal, they will try trading Walker or sending him to the bullpen. It’s a long shot for Walker, but other teams might be interested in signing him.
MLB trade rumors are getting heated up as many players are on the free agent market. Recently, Teoscar Hernandez declined his qualifying offer from the Dodgers to become a free agent.