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10 starting pitchers the Philadelphia Phillies could target in free agency

By David Esser

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Marcus Stroman #0 of the New York Mets in action during an intra squad game at Citi Field on July 17, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Marcus Stroman #0 of the New York Mets in action during an intra squad game at Citi Field on July 17, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Sep 20, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (00) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (00) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Taijuan Walker

2020 Team: Toronto Blue Jays

2020 Salary: $2.37 million

Right-hander Taijuan Walker has had a super weird MLB career up until the point, bouncing around from team to team on one-year contracts. After finally settling in with Toronto this past season, the 28 year old will likely be looking to finally cash out.

Walker had a decent enough start to his professional career, hanging around a high 3.00-low 4.00 ERA during his first couple of seasons with the Mariners and the Diamondbacks. However, after suffering a torn UCL, and undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018, things weren’t looking too hot for Walker’s outward projection.

He worked out for 20 different MLB scouts this past offseason, but no-one seemed all that interested. He ultimately settled on a one-year/$2 million deal to return to his old club in Seattle.

After five promising starts with the Mariners, Seattle promptly traded him, shipping him out to the talent-hungry Toronto Blue Jays. To put it bluntly, Walker absolutely exploded upon arriving in Canada, posting a 1.37 ERA across 26.1 innings for the Blue Jays. It turned out to be one of the best trades of 2020, and one that the Mariners probably wish they could have back.

The Blue Jays would ideally like to have both Robbie Ray and Walker back for 2021, but money does start to become an issue at some point, especially post COVID-19 revenue loss. If Toronto can’t find a way to keep both, Walker instantly becomes one of the most intriguing free agents in all of baseball, and a name that the Philadelphia Phillies would preferably have their eyes on.

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