Phillies Set to Part Ways with $72 Million All-Star After Luzardo Trade
The Philadelphia Phillies made a significant move by trading for Jesús Luzardo, a starter from the Miami Marlins, which could signal the end of one of their All-Star pitchers’ time with the team. With Luzardo now added to the rotation, the Phillies are expected to part ways with Taijuan Walker, according to predictions from FanSided’s Mark Powell.
In his analysis, Powell highlighted that while Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski had previously stated that Walker would have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the rotation or even a role in long relief during spring training, the acquisition of Luzardo makes that less likely. Additionally, with Andrew Painter set to return from injury and possibly make his major league debut, Walker’s future with the Phillies becomes more uncertain. Powell noted that Walker doesn’t align with the team’s long-term plans and would benefit from a fresh start elsewhere, where his contract could serve as a more affordable placeholder.
Taijuan Walker, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies in 2022, has struggled to meet expectations since his arrival. In the 2023 season, he posted a disappointing 7.10 ERA over 19 games, and his performance in the previous year wasn’t much better, with a 4.38 ERA. Although Walker was an All-Star in 2021 with the New York Mets, his form has significantly declined since then, making him far from the player he once was.
Although Walker’s hefty contract makes him difficult to trade, the Phillies might be willing to absorb part of the salary to facilitate a deal. The addition of Luzardo, an elite pitcher, makes Walker expendable. With Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez, and Cristopher Sánchez already in the rotation, Luzardo represents a significant upgrade over Walker, providing the Phillies with a much stronger and more promising pitching staff for the future.