Struggling Phillies release RHP Taijuan Walker

The Philadelphia Phillies released veteran starter Taijuan Walker on Thursday despite $15 million remaining on his contract.

He signed a four-year, $72 million contract with Philadelphia in December 2022.

At 8-16, the Phillies are tied with the New York Mets for the worst record in the National League, and Walker was a contributor to those woes.

The 33-year-old pitched in five games (four starts) and was 1-4 with a 9.13 ERA. He allowed 25 runs (23 earned) in 22 2/3 innings on 36 hits and 11 walks. Eight of those hits were home runs.

Staff ace Zack Wheeler is scheduled to return to the pitching rotation on Saturday after a lengthy recovery from surgery to treat a blood clot in his shoulder last September.

Walker was a first-round draft pick in 2010 by the Seattle Mariners, one of his five major league stops. He had been with the Phillies since 2023 and appeared in 89 games (71 starts), posting a 24-25 record and a 5.12 ERA in his three-plus seasons in Philadelphia.

In his career, Walker has pitched in 256 games (234 starts) with the Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Mets and Phillies. He has a 78-75 record and a 4.27 ERA.

The Phillies also announced a swap of right-handed pitchers with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday. They recalled Nolan Hoffman and optioned Alan Rangel.

--Field Level Media