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Phillies Face Impending Decision After Taijuan Walker Regression

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mike Ostrowski | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 9:00 PM ET

Philly's shifting fortunes with Taijuan Walker seemed too good to be true. Monday night all but confirmed that thinking.

After not allowing a run through his first 12 innings of work this season, Walker was shelled for six in the top of the second by the San Francisco Giants. The Giants ultimately batted around in the inning as Walker committed an error and allowed a pair of home runs to Tyler Fitzgerald and Willy Adames.

Walker would end up going five innings total while not allowing any further damage. Regardless, it was a deflating stretch for someone who went from pulling an UNO-reverse from last season to having the same card thrown right back at him in less than two weeks.

Walker was one of the worst pitchers in MLB during 2024, with a sky-high 7.10 ERA, 24 home runs allowed, and a .386 opponent OBP across 83.2 innings. He was only brought back by virtue of his contract, as the Phillies still owe Walker $36 million between this and next year.

Taijuan is in the Phillies rotation for now because of an injury to Ranger Suárez, but the lefty is about to undergo his second rehab start and should return soon. Walker will probably get one more start before then, as the Phillies aren't off until next Thursday, April 24th.

After that though, it's possible that his time with the club will be up. The Phillies could move him to the bullpen when Suárez returns, but to do so they'd have to either send Tanner Banks down to the minors - as of the pitchers with options remaining, he is the only one not in a crucial role - or DFA someone else.

Otherwise, they'll have to finally accept that this contract was a big swing and a miss.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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