FREEDOM: The Phillies finally cut ties with Taijuan Walker

It’s over. It’s finally over. The Phillies released Taijuan Walker on Thursday and the nightmare is officially done. Four years. $72 million. And not a single moment where this contract looked like anything other than the worst deal in modern Phillies history.

Prior to today’s game against the Cubs, the Phillies recalled right-hander Nolan Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Alan Rangel was optioned back down following last night’s game and Taijuan Walker was released. Cut loose. Set free into the wild where he can be someone else’s problem. I might frame the transaction wire.

Phillies release Taijuan Walker

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Just look at these numbers one more time because they deserve to be remembered for how historically bad they are.

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.

That’s $72 million for a pitcher who allowed more hits than innings pitched. A pitcher who gave up 73 home runs in 402 innings. A pitcher whose ERA never once dipped below five for any sustained stretch since putting on a Phillies uniform.

A pitcher who was the worst starter in the rotation every single year of this contract. 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.

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

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. They kept running him out there because the alternative was admitting they lit $72 million on fire. Well, they finally admitted it. And the whole city is better for it.

I wrote two days ago that Taijuan Walker would probably get stashed in the bullpen because the Phillies lacked the depth to cut him. I was wrong. And I have never been happier to be wrong about anything in my life. The Phillies looked at this man’s 9.13 ERA in 2026, looked at the roster, looked at whatever Nolan Hoffman has to offer, and decided that literally anything was better than one more inning of Taijuan Walker. And they were right.

Dave Dombrowski signed this contract. He has to answer for it eventually. 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. But that’s a conversation for the offseason. Today is a celebration.

Taijuan Walker is gone. Zack Wheeler comes back Saturday. And for the first time in weeks, there’s a reason to feel slightly less miserable about being a Phillies fan.

Good riddance.

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