Another early playoff exit has left Philadelphia Phillies fans uneasy heading into the offseason. Known for his bold, aggressive, and high-priced moves, Dave Dombrowski seems to have eased off the gas in recent years. Since signing Trea Turner, convincing the Phillies to make a significant trade or spend big in free agency has felt like an uphill battle.
Following a disappointing 2024 trade deadline, there was genuine concern about how Philadelphia would approach the winter. To his credit, Dombrowski has made some meaningful additions, even if the dream of landing Juan Soto never came to fruition.
The Phillies acquired Jesús Luzardo, who instantly becomes one of the best No. 5 starters in baseball. They also bolstered the bullpen by signing former All-Star closer Jordan Romano and bringing in Joe Ross as a versatile swingman. In the outfield, Max Kepler projects as a more reliable everyday left fielder than Austin Hays.
Perhaps Dombrowski’s most significant offseason move, however, was effectively phasing out Taijuan Walker. Walker’s 2024 season was a disaster, posting a 7.10 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 19 appearances (15 starts). There was a real concern that the Phillies would let him compete for a rotation spot again—but that is clearly not the case.
Phillies Push Taijuan Walker to the Sidelines After Roster Overhaul
After Philadelphia’s 2023 NLCS elimination, Walker voiced his frustration on social media, calling out what he felt was “disrespect” and liking posts that criticized manager Rob Thomson for not using him. While it took some effort to dig up those posts, Thomson handled the situation with class, understanding Walker’s frustration.
“People get emotional. He’s a competitive guy. I love Taijuan. I really do,” Thomson told Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Sports Illustrated). “This guy gave us 15 wins. Every time he goes out to the mound, he competes until we take him out, and then he never wants to come out. And I want a guy like that. So that type of thing doesn’t bother me. I’ll call him at some point. But I love him. I love his demeanor. I love his toughness. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Even so, given Walker’s dreadful 2024 performance, his complaints seem misplaced. Now, Thomson appears fully justified in his decisions—Walker is no longer in the rotation discussion and barely factors into the bullpen picture.
Despite having $36 million left on his contract, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports that Walker is at risk of losing the final bullpen spot this spring.
“Only one job is available,” Zolecki notes. “It’s Walker’s job for now, because he is owed $36 million over the next two years. But he will have to pitch well this spring. Other 40-man roster candidates include Max Lazar and Tyler Phillips. Non-roster relievers to watch include Nick Vespi and Joel Kuhnel.”
With Philadelphia parting ways with Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez, Walker still faces the possibility of being left off the Opening Day roster. That speaks volumes about just how disastrous last season was. Unless he turns things around in 2025 and delivers the All-Star performance the Phillies envisioned when signing him to a $72 million deal, his future in Philadelphia—and potentially in MLB—remains uncertain. At this point, it’s not about disrespect; it’s about reality.