Phillies, Mets Complete Trade Despite NL East Standing Battle

Walton was not on the Mets' 40-man roster, so he will not immediately occupy a place on the Phillies' roster. He will be joining the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley.

The new Phillies' addition is a lefty in the box and a versatile utility player in the field. Walton had been playing with the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse in 2025 after signing a Minor League contract in November.

The utility players' numbers have been subpar so far this season, hitting just .222 with a .315 OBP, and a .693 OPS. However, he has launched 11 home runs, and has a strong walk to strikeout ratio, earning 30 walks and striking out 39 times on the season.

Walton brings some experience at the big league level as well. The veteran has spent part of five different seasons in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants, with his most recent stint being at the end of 2024. Walton has also been in the minor league system since 2016.

The seasoned minor leaguer has struggled at the major league level when he's had the opportunity, hitting just .174 with a .532 OPS. Still, he nearly made the Mets' roster this season over Luisangel Acuna.

Walton mainly plays in the middle infield, but has experience in left field and at third base, bringing versatility to a Phillies' minor league team lacking depth.

Throughout his 10 years in the minor leagues, Walton has sustained a respectable .279 BA with a .785 OPS, and those numbers stay consistent during his five years at the Triple-A level with a .271 BA and a .794 OPS.