Taijuan Walker’s $72 Million contract continues to be the worst deal in Phillies history

Just look at these numbers since the Phillies signed Taijuan Walker to a four-year, $72 million deal. 402 2/3 innings pitched. 430 hits allowed. 229 earned runs. 161 walks. 299 strikeouts. 73 home runs given up. A 5.12 ERA. A 1.47 WHIP.

You Know This Already But Taijuan Walker Needs To Go

Taijuan Walker’s stats since signing his four-year $72 million contract with the Phillies:

402.2 IP | 430 H | 229 ER | 161 BB | 299 K |
73 HR | 5.12 ERA | 1.47 WHIP pic.twitter.com/MlM61Dc8nz

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) April 23, 2026

That’s $72 million for a pitcher who has allowed more hits than innings pitched. A pitcher who has given up 73 home runs in 402 innings. A pitcher whose ERA has never once dipped below five for any sustained stretch since putting on a Phillies uniform. A pitcher who has been the worst starter in the rotation every single year of this contract and is somehow still on the roster because the Phillies don’t have the depth to cut him loose.

The Phillies paid this man $18 million a year to be a below-average pitcher on a team with championship aspirations. And he delivered exactly that. Below average. Every single year. Without exception.

His own infielders stared at the dirt while opponents rounded the bases. The crowd booed him off the mound in his own stadium. Thomson had to babysit his outings and pull him early because leaving him in for more than four innings was a death sentence. Still, somehow, the Phillies kept running him out there because the alternative was admitting they lit $72 million on fire.

Eight Straight Losses. Worst Record in the NL. Worst Run Differential in Baseball. The Phillies are in Freefall >>

This is the final year of the deal. It cannot end fast enough.

When Zack Wheeler comes back Saturday, Walker gets banished to the bullpen where he’ll soak up mop-up innings and pad his stats against lineups that have already given up on the game. That’s his role now. That’s what $72 million bought the Phillies. A mop-up guy who they overpaid by about $68 million.

Dave Dombrowski signed this contract. He has to answer for it. Not today. Not tomorrow. But when the offseason comes and the Phillies are evaluating what went wrong in 2026, this deal should be exhibit A in the case for why front office accountability matters.

You cannot hand $72 million to a pitcher with Walker’s track record and then act surprised when he pitches exactly like his track record said he would.

Good riddance to this contract. It can’t expire soon enough.

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