Phillies finally release Taijaun Walker after wasteful $72 million deal

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Phillies finally release Taijaun Walker after wasteful $72 million deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies are 8-16 on the season, and look to be in a nosedive for the bottom of the league if things don't change soon.

While Rob Thomson is firmly on the hot seat, the Phillies are making a different change before firing their skipper.

As the Phillies announced amid a string of roster moves, they have released Taijaun Walker, the $72 million disaster signing that did not work out at all.

Phillies release Taijaun Walker​

"Prior to today's game against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies recalled RHP Nolan Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Anal Rangel was optioned to Lehigh Valley following last night's game. Additionally, RHP Taijaun Walker was released."

The Phillies' releasing Walker is not a surprise whatsoever. He was in the middle of a brutal season, the final year of his four-year, $72 million contract.

Walker had a 9.13 ERA with a 1-4 record through the first five outings of the year. His struggles were a big reason why the Phillies have the worst record in baseball, and especially why their run differential is the worst in the league.

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His $72 million deal was fortunately in the last year of this season, with Walker set to make $18 million this season. But, he's now been cut and will be a free agent.

That massive deal for Walker was a massively wasteful one, as they were in their World Series window, and burned a good amount of money on a pitcher who posted a 5.12 ERA in four years with the team.

Walker, the 14-year veteran who was a former All-Star with the New York Mets, was a colossal mistake from Dave Dombrowski. Had they not spent so much on Walker, and instead spent elsewhere, they might've won a World Series in the last few years.

This roster move was a long-time coming, as Walker's production for the Phillies was very poor in recent years. While he wasn't terrible last season, he's not worth the $18 million or the cumulative $72 million deal he signed before the 2023 season.

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