Phillies sign RHP Taijuan Walker

[bigegypt0417]

4 years 71 mlb network

Phillies To Sign Taijuan Walker

[arpax]

Do we like this or not?

[ahb]

I like it

[Patchmk88]

He’s a solid 3/4 with Ranger.

[nycphils]

His last contract was 2 year, $20m, when he was 27/28 years old. Now at 30 y.o., he gets almost $18m/yr for 4 years. Seems like something of an overpay, but he’s solid and should be good for 1 WAR-ish. He’s certainly better than Gibson, and more reliable than Syndergaard, but is he worth that contract? Probably not, but it isn’t totally crazy.

[Taudawg]

I like. Has been pretty solid and durable since TJS - missing most of 18/19. Handled playing in nyc. Cost seems fair.

[phillychuck]

He needs to be more of a 2 WAR pitcher to earn that contract. I think it's a bit of an overpay myself. He is projected to 1.4 fWAR for next season by both Fangraphs systems....although he did have 2.5 fWar for the Mets this year.

[andyb]

Probably agree that it is a little overpay. But he is also younger than most of the competition and has been solid for 2 years. K rate going down is the biggest negative for me, but he may be just pitching to contact in that big stadium.

I just think all contracts may be like 10% more than our expectations now that teams are spending more.

[nycphils]

No qualifying offer, as signaled by DD. That’s good.

[allentown]

Most FAs are a bit of an overpay and pitchers seem to be bigger overpays than position players this season, laughably so. I'll say this: I'll definitely take the Walker deal over the deals given to Verlander and Eflin. We are overpaying for a career year, tying his prior +2.6 WAR of several years ago. If he averages 2 WAR that's $9 mill/WAR.

[andyb]

We are overpaying for a career year, tying his prior +2.6 WAR of several years ago. If he averages 2 WAR that's $9 mill/WAR.

He has actually had 2 years like that including the one before his TJ surgery. And pro-rated in 2020 was even better.

I like that he throws strikes. Didn't he sprain an ankle or something like that against us last year. I think it was non-arm injuries that lowered his innings last year.

[allentown]

That's why I said tying his 2.6 WAR of several years ago! He did not have a third such year, if that is what you are suggesting.

[andyb]

He was 1.4 WAR in the 60-game 2020 season. Small sample but very good year.

[Austinfan]

He started 29 games each of the last two seasons, but he's a 5 inning pitcher, so we need to add to the pen.

He had a slight falloff in velo, both 2 and 4 seamer, and most pitches were less effective, but I think it's because he's made his splitter his "out" pitch and started heavily relying on it. The good news, like a changeup, it can buy you a year or two when the velo falls off by keeping hitters off-balance.

Falter/Sanchez no. 5
AAA: Plassmeyer, Skirrow, McGarry, Painter, Abel, loser of Falter/Sanchez? Miller? Crouse?
Means they have options that they don't have to rush.

[fish]

Unless they go after Liam Hendricks or something, signing Walker fills that hole and seems to make it unlikely Abel or McGarry get traded this offseason. So that’s good!

[andyb]

Looks like Walker had some back issues last year. I guess that is concerning long term but he did come back fine at the end of the year. His velocity was barely off from last year and basically his whole career so his arm seems healthy. Also missed a start or two with blisters.

[Dirk41]

Supposedly a super great guy.

This is an overpay, though.

[Philsmania]

Supposedly a super great guy.

This is an overpay, though.

That's the nature of SP market this offseason.

[fish]

This is an overpay, though.

Tailllon basically got the same deal- similar stats but better spin from Taillon. Who would you rather have for 4 years? A bit of a tossup but I feel a little better about Walker not becoming the dead contract first.

[Taudawg]

We have Walker for ages 29-33, Taillon signed for 31-35 seasons. I think the additional 4 mil is worth it to get the younger player. Only time will tell.