Reports: Phils, RHP Taijuan Walker agree to 4-year, $72M deal

The Philadelphia Phillies continued their free agent spending spree on Tuesday, agreeing to a four-year, $72 million deal with right-hander Taijuan Walker, according to multiple media reports. A day earlier, the Phillies reportedly landed shortstop Trea Turner with an 11-year, $300 million contract. Walker, 30, spent the past two seasons with the New York Mets. He was an All-Star for the first time in 2021, though he finished 7-11 with a 4.47 ERA in 30 games (29 starts). This year, he went 12-5 with a 3.49 ERA in 29 starts. A first-round draft pick of the Mariners in 2010, Walker played in Seattle from 2013-16. He spent 2017-19 with the Arizona Diamondbacks before splitting the 2020 season between the Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays. In 167 career games (163 starts), Walker has a 54-50 record with a 3.89 ERA, 806 strikeouts and 284 walks in 898 innings. Walker joins a rotation topped by right-handers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola and left-hander Ranger Suarez. Right-hander Zach Eflin, a Philadelphia starter for much of the past seven years who pitched in relief during the 2022 playoffs, reportedly agreed to a three-year, $40 million free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Rays last week. The Phillies reached the World Series this year before losing in six games to the Houston Astros. The Mets have lost two starting pitchers in less than a week, as right-hander Jacob deGrom signed a five-year, $185 million free agent contract with the Texas Rangers on Friday. --Field Level Media