The Philadelphia Phillies are in May's final days, and it's safe to say the 2025 MLB season has been going better than expected. Entering Friday's action, the Phillies own a National League-leading 36-20 record, putting them only half a game behind the Detroit Tigers for the best performance in the Majors.
As great as the vibes have been around the Phillies' clubhouse, the 2025 campaign hasn't been perfect. Rob Thomson's club suffered a major blow earlier this month when closer Jose Alvarado's violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy resulted in an 80-game suspension and ineligibility for the upcoming postseason.
Since the suspension announcement, the Phillies have been on the hunt for more pitching depth. They continued that quest to close out the month by trading for a reliever who was recently kicked to the curb by an American League club.
Phillies Trade for LHP Josh Walker After Being DFA'd by Blue Jays
On Thursday evening, the Phillies announced that they have acquired left-handed pitcher Josh Walker from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. The 30-year-old southpaw was then optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after the deal went through.
Being traded to the Phillies signifies a fresh start for Walker, who was designated for assignment (DFA) by the Blue Jays on May 25. The Otisville, NY native had pitched to a 7.20 ERA in three relief appearances (5 innings) with Toronto this season, leaving time to tell if his numbers will improve following a change in scenery.
Although his MLB career hasn't gone smoothly, Walker does one thing going for him: a high strikeout ability. He's averaging a respectable 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings through his first 27 career outings, which includes a rate of 14.4 Ks per nine this season. That's likely attractive to a Phillies team that lost Alvarado, who had 25 strikeouts in 20 innings (11.3 per nine) before being suspended.
Having said that, Phillies fans shouldn't expect too much from Walker. He's struggled to limit runs in the Majors and minors this season, meaning he'll likely be nothing more than a depth arm unless he plays himself into an unavoidable call-up. Philadelphia is clearly comfortable with its bullpen situation, even if Alvarado's void has yet to be filled.
For now, the Phillies will monitor how Walker meshes in Lehigh Valley before giving him an opportunity at an MLB return.