Most of the Philadelphia Phillies' veteran players are focused on winning a World Series in 2024. But one is just fighting to stay on the roster.
With a five-game lead atop the National League East, the Phillies have had a mostly-good season, and the starting rotation has been a big part of that success. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez look to be a formidable foursome heading into October.
The Phillies' expected fifth starter this season was Taijuan Walker, in year two of a four-year, $72 million deal he signed in Philadelphia after an All-Star tenure with the New York Mets. But absolutely nothing has gone to plan for Walker in 2024.
With a 6.50 ERA in 14 starts this season, Walker has been one of the least effective pitchers in all of baseball. And according to a team insider, it may cost him his job not only this season, but in the long haul.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic wrote on Thursday about the possibility that the Phillies could eat the remaining two years on Walker's deal, which would amount to $39 million in dead money.
"Eating that much money would be unprecedented in Phillies history, but it’s been done by other teams," Gelb said. "It’s not an October problem. But Walker’s situation is the one staring them down right now."
According to Gelb, it would be the second-largest amount of dead money a team has ever paid a player to go away, behind Pablo Sandoval's $48.3 million from the Boston Red Sox.
Wednesday afternoon was the low point for Walker, who was forced to pitch six full innings in a blowout loss against the Houston Astros. He allowed six earned runs on 13 hits and failed to strike out a single batter, the most hits a Phillies pitcher had allowed without a strikeout since 1948.
After not being included on the postseason roster in 2023, Walker is almost certain to be left out of the playoff fun for a second year in a row. If he ends up being dropped by the Phillies this winter, his contract will unfortunately be remembered as one of the worst in franchise history.
There may not be time left for Walker to turn it around at this point. But if he wants to remain in Philadelphia, he had better start pitching well, immediately.
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