Phillies linked to 6.29 ERA lefty starter as potential Taijuan Walker replacement

The Philadelphia Phillies roster is one of the best in all of Major League Baseball. If there were one issue, it would involve the team's fifth starter, Taijaun Walker.

He's struggled a lot in his career with the Phillies, and that's especially been the case this season, with his 9.31 ERA in two starts, one against the Washington Nationals and another against the Colorado Rockies, being a big problem.

With a sneaky need for more rotation help, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report linked the Phillies as a possible landing spot for former New York Yankees and San Diego Padres starting pitcher free agent Nestor Cortez as a Walker replacement.

Phillies linked to Nestor Cortez as Walker replacement

"Other Landing Spots: Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies," Rymer writes on Cortez's landing spot this season.

He's a free agent still a few weeks into the regular season, and could be looking for a new deal to join an MLB club this season.

The 31-year-old lefty starter could be a short-term replacement for Walker, who is struggling far too much for the Phillies to stick with him going forward.

Cortez wasn't good last season, posting a 6.29 ERA in eight starts for the Milwaukee Brewers and Padres.

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But, back in 2024, Cortez was actually pretty decent for the Yankees, as he posted a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts (31 games) with a 9-10 record and 2.4 bWAR.

While Cortez isn't a must-have for the Phillies' rotation, with Zack Wheeler hopefully coming back soon, he could be a better sixth starting pitcher option than Walker.

If nothing else, it would give the Phillies another lefty starting pitching option other than Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo. All of their other starters in Aaron Nola, Andrew Painter, Walker, and Wheeler are righties.

Rymer named the Phillies as one of a few possible landing spots for Cortez this season, with the Padres being his best landing spot. It wouldn't be a bad idea for the Phillies, as Cortez could be a decent Walker replacement or a depth starter.

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