Former Phillies $72 million bust leaves Angels amid uncertain MLB future

The Philadelphia Phillies decided to part ways with a former All-Star starting pitcher earlier this season. 

Shortly after, the right-hander signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. 

His time with the Angels was short, as the AL West club did not promote him from Triple-A. 

Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports that Taijuan Walker was granted his release from the Angels. Walker earned an All-Star selection with the New York Mets in 2021, but his career has taken a nosedive since. 

In five games before his release from the Phillies, Walker allowed 23 earned runs and 36 hits, including eight home runs in 22.2 innings. 

"Even if the Angels prefer other in-house options to step into the fifth spot in the rotation, there are plenty of other clubs around the league whose starting staffs have been ravaged by health troubles," Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors wrote Monday. "The Blue Jays, Cubs, Tigers, Twins, and Marlins are just a few of the teams that have multiple rotation arms on the injured list at the moment." 

MORE: Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM

Before the start of the 2023 season, Walker signed a four-year, $72 million contract with Philadelphia. It turned out to be one of the organization's worst deals with a free agent starting pitcher to date. 

The Phillies moved Walker to the bullpen in 2025 amid inconsistent performance, and he finished his tenure with a 5.12 ERA in 402.2 innings. 

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