Jun 7, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Taijuan Walker's tenure with the Phillies is over.
As part of a series of roster moves before Thursday afternoon's series finale in Chicago against the Cubs, the Phillies announced that Walker has been released. Additionally, RHP Nolan Hoffman has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while RHP Alan Rangel has been optioned to the IronPigs.
It brings an end to a tenure that spanned parts of four seasons with the Phillies for Walker. It's complicated in the sense that he was a great teammate and hard worker, but ultimately the results were the results. Walker posted a 5.12 ERA across 402 2/3 innings as a Phillie, making 71 starts and 89 total appearances. It was a disastrous output given that he received a four-year/$72 million free-agent contract ahead of the 2023 season.
The Phillies tried to see if using an opener in front of Walker would help him to get off to a quicker start, but in relief of Kyle Backhus Wednesday, he allowed eight hits and five runs — four of which were earned — over four innings. His ERA this season spiked to 9.13.
While the Phillies are short on starting pitching depth organizationally, Zack Wheeler will return to the starting rotation Saturday in Atlanta. And whether it's the aforementioned Rangel or someone not currently in the organization, the Phillies have evidently decided that they can find someone to make a spot start that's not Walker if need be.
Of course, the fact that the Phillies are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak can't be ignored here. If the Phillies were 4-4 over their last eight games, they might be inclined to just stash Walker in the bullpen as a long man. But the fanbase is understandably frustrated, and with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski giving Rob Thomson a vote of confidence earlier this week, it felt like something else had to be done. Walker was far from the only issue with the Phillies, but releasing him does give some red meat to a disgusted fanbase.
