The Philadelphia Phillies announced Thursday that they have released pitcher Taijuan Walker.
Walker, who was in the final season of his four-year, $72 million contract, had struggled badly this year, posting a 9.13 ERA. The team experimented with multiple adjustments to help the right-hander—including changes to his pregame routine and even using an opener in a 7–2 loss to the Chicago Cubs—but ultimately saw no improvement.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged Walker’s past contributions but said his recent performance made the decision unavoidable, noting that despite his efforts, he hasn’t been effective this season.
Since signing with the Phillies in December 2022, Walker failed to meet expectations, finishing with a 5.12 ERA over more than 400 innings and making just one brief postseason appearance.
His struggles worsened in 2026, with declining velocity and poor swing-and-miss numbers placing him among the least effective pitchers in the league.
Manager Rob Thomson praised Walker’s professionalism and character, emphasizing that he consistently took the ball, handled media responsibilities, and supported the team, even during difficult stretches.
In his final outing during the team’s eighth straight loss, Walker allowed four runs in four innings. With Zack Wheeler set to return from injury, the Phillies considered moving Walker to the bullpen but ultimately decided it wasn’t a suitable role.
Dombrowski added that the team had explored trade options for Walker without success and suggested a fresh start elsewhere might benefit him.
Walker remained in the rotation largely due to a lack of pitching depth, but with other options emerging in the minors, the Phillies chose to move on rather than keep him in a bullpen role that hadn’t worked for him.
Despite releasing him, the Phillies are still responsible for the remaining $15.3 million on his contract, unless another team signs him and offsets part of the cost.
Dombrowski noted that while the deal didn’t work out as hoped this past year, Walker still contributed positively to the team during his time in Philadelphia.
