Feb 20, 2025; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) participates in media day at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Nathan Ray Seebeck
Every week, On Pattison's Tim Kelly and Anthony SanFilippo will answer your Phillies questions from social media. Let's get to it.
@ThirtyBallparks on Threads: Let’s say hypothetically that Taijuan Walker has an amazing spring. Seems like a new man. Should the Phillies trust him to start again if the need arises? Or has that ship sailed?
@Flyers2601 on X: What kind of role will Taijuan Walker have with the Phillies now that they've added Luzardo to the starting rotation? Bullpen piece? Extra starter in case of injury?
Tim Kelly: It's not impossible that the Phillies will keep Walker as the long man in the bullpen if he looks good in Spring Training, although I'd argue that wouldn't be a great use of one of your bullpen spots. But I'm not the one paying him $18 million in each of the next two seasons.
The best-case scenario for all involved would probably be for Walker to pitch well enough this spring that the Phillies are able to trade him to a team that takes on, say, 10% of his remaining salary. The Phillies having to pay 90% of the $36 million he's owed over the next two seasons would be better than if they designate him for assignment, wind up releasing him and owe 100% of his remaining money.
First things first, though, Walker has to pitch well enough in Spring Training for this to really become a discussion. He's worked very hard in the offseason, and is definitely bulked up from the weighted ball program. But it appeared that his body was failing him last year, and if that's the case, it often doesn't matter how hard you work. Once your arm goes, it goes.
Anthony SanFilippo: First off, let me say this — it's truly fascinating to me how many fans are interested in this guy and how he performs. Seriously. I feel like I talk about Taijuan Walker more than any player on the Phillies. And frankly, I don't get it. Look, the guy can pitch like peak Justin Verlander in Spring Training and I don't think the Phillies will consider keeping him on the roster. Spring Training is Spring Training. How many February/March darlings have we seen not translate to similar success when the games count?
That's not to say there isn't benefit to the Phillies for him to pitch well. There is — as it might be enough for a rival team to take him off the Phillies' hands at a discount from what will likely amount to a sunk cost of $36 million. But aside from that, it's almost irrelevant.
The lone bit of relevance is if there are injuries to guys who would be ahead of him on the depth chart. That's the only way he makes it onto the roster. He's not a bullpen arm and carrying him as a long man seems counterproductive to pitching success for the organization. The best long men are capable of sitting for days on end before really getting an opportunity to throw. Walker has never really had to do that, so why would that be the best option for a championship team?
Face it, even though Walker can still be a major league pitcher somewhere, it's his contract that is the albatross around the Phillies' necks at the moment, and the sooner they can move off of it — even a small part of it — the better for everyone.
Phillies Stoplight 2/24 with @TimKellySports and @AntSanPhilly 🚦
🚥: Race for final spot on the bench
🚥: Mets dealing with injuries to starting rotation
🚥: Bullpen dark horse pic.twitter.com/yZX7FXwehP
@Shermaning on X: Do the Phils still view Mick Abel as a solid starting pitcher in the Major Leagues in the near future? (Is he in the future plans?)
Tim Kelly: He's got a lot to prove this year. I get it, Abel is still only 22 years old. Success isn't always linear. Minor league stats aren't always indicative of what's to come at the majors. Etc. Etc. Etc.
The bottom line is that Abel posted a 6.46 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year, walking 78 batters over 108 2/3 innings. When the Phillies were desperate for someone to plug the hole at the back of the starting rotation down the stretch last year, he wasn't a consideration. Fair or unfair, he's on a bust trajectory, and will have to change his stock in 2025.
Anthony SanFilippo: Adding to what Tim already wrote, the Phillies stockpiled starting pitching depth this offseason too, meaning they aren't sure Abel is even close to ready, even if he has a bounce-back campaign in 2025.
When you look at the depth chart, beyond the starting five and Joe Ross — who, to start the season, is likely your No. 6 who will take down relief innings if everyone else is healthy — Andrew Painter will arrive "Julyish," as Dave Dombrowski likes to say (I'm on the record as predicting a June series in Miami for his debut), and Moises Chace — who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the Gregory Soto trade last summer — is likely ahead of Abel as well.
Abel's struggles are hard to fathom because he does have above-average stuff that should translate into a mid-rotation starter at the Big League level. It just hasn't manifested itself. Maybe he'd be better as a reliever? Who knows. But, the Phillies are going to give him another crack at it as a starter in the minors and see what's what. But his star has fallen... hard.
@MrEd315 on X: Who has impressed & who’s left you distressed so far during Spring Training?
Tim Kelly: Whether pictures give you the full scope or not, I can tell you from standing next to him that Cristopher Sánchez has bulked up noticeably from last year. And remember, he added quite a bit of muscle coming into 2024. Whether he's an All-Star again or not, I certainly don't think last season was a fluke for the lefty.
Bryson Stott: "I always tell him he looks bigger each time I see him."
Rob Thomson: "Jeez, he looks like I did in high school." https://t.co/xHcgiMgUOT
As for distress, it's probably too early to make any bold proclamations. But I will say, the Phillies wanting to have another right-handed hitter capable of playing center field gives you an idea that the clock is ticking on Johan Rojas. Even with Weston Wilson out, I don't think it's a lock Rojas is on the Opening Day roster if he doesn't show offensive improvement in the Grapefruit League.
Anthony SanFilippo: It's truly hard to give you an answer to either side of this question as I haven't been down there yet to actually see anyone in person (T-minus two weeks and counting), and there's only been two games and not a lot to glean from them. But, from all reports, including the great work by Tim when he was down there, it's hard not to be impressed by the commitment made by José Alvarado to get into better shape so he can possibly go back to being a dominant arm at the back end of the bullpen. I'll take that as a positive.
In case you’re wondering, José Alvarado still throws incredibly hard. @OnPattison pic.twitter.com/kBS4Gjb3F8
And while Tim is stealing my anti-Rojas thunder for a change, I'll give you a related concern — the outfield depth is non-existent. Especially right-handed. With Weston Wilson out for at least six weeks with an oblique strain, the next man up for outfield duty that swings the bat from the right side is... Oscar Mercado? He had that one game for the Phillies in 2022 that earned him an NL Championship ring. So there's that.
Somehow it seems that what was a hole for the Phillies at the end of last season that needed filling is now a full-on chasm. I'm not sure how Dave Dombrowski plans to fill it, but speaking from my many years of experience in pro sports, Band-Aids don't lead to championships.
@SomeAngelPHL: How do the Phils order the rotation btwn L and R?
Tim Kelly: Based off of what Rob Thomson said at the outset of camp, I think it's going to be Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez and Jesús Luzardo in that order to open the season. That breaks up your two right-handed arms, and also splits up Sánchez and Luzardo, your two most similar lefties.
Anthony SanFilippo: That's how they'll start, but at some point, someone is gonna have to step aside for Andrew Painter. It'll be curious to see how that plays out, but unless there's an injury to either Wheeler or Nola, it's likely going to be one of the lefties. If Luzardo can maintain his health, he might be the best of the three of them, and I can see him moving up the rotation as Thomson gets the chance to maneuver guys around off days.
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