The Mariners have added a pair of potential rotation candidates in Wei-Yin Chen and Nick Margevicius since last week, and they may not be done yet. It’s “believed” that they’re still interested in free-agent right-hander Taijuan Walker, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. Johns first connected the Mariners to Walker over a month ago, but rumors centering on the 27-year-old have been scarce in the past several weeks.
There has already been one Seattle stint for Walker, whom the team chose 43rd overall in the 2011 draft and then saw blossom into an elite prospect. Walker stayed with the organization through 2016, but the M’s then traded him to Arizona in a move that netted them outfielder Mitch Haniger and middle infielder Jean Segura (now with the Phillies). Segura was later shipped out as part of a deal for the Mariners’ current shortstop, J.P. Crawford.
Walker, still only 27 years old, perhaps hasn’t lived up to the billing he had as a prospect. He had an uneven tenure with the M’s, though Walker was effective with Arizona in his first season there. Unfortunately, shoulder and elbow injuries (including Tommy John surgery) have cut him down dating back to 2018, having limited him to 14 innings in the past two seasons. Walker tossed just one frame last year, in the Diamondbacks’ final game.
Despite the arm troubles Walker has endured of late, he does look like one of the most interesting starters left in a free-agent market that has mostly been picked over. In the Mariners’ rebuilding position, Walker makes sense as a buy-low type who could have a chance to push for a spot in a rotation that’s short on established options behind Marco Gonzales.
Walker would be a perfect bounceback candidate for the Rockies, but our GM literally does nothing so I’m not expecting it
Neither does our gm he wants the mariners to fell he dont see weve suffered long enough
If healthy Walker could give up 40 HR over 170 innings in Colorado
not really, walker did well in another hitter’s park in arizona while also having good career stats at coors
Walker might be a good bounce back candidate a lot of places.
I think every ball club would give him a minor league deal.
His lack of health will fortunately save him.
The Rockies GM and the Cardinals Pres of Baseball operations looking at making a deal fo a Arenaldo was a joke!! Both of those Front Offices are do nothing heads of baseball operations. The Cardinals and Rockies are doing the same thing as tanking in 2020.
The cards are one of the best run organizations in ALL of sports. People are dumb.
Tony Larussa is a cheater and a scumbag. He was one of the faces of the Cards for years. You know it’s true.
What does Larussa have to do with this conversation?
Walker would be a good piece for the astros as “trying to get over that whole cheating thing” guy. I bet he would bounce-back with the tips they’d give him, I see it as a good fit.
The Astros have the best pitching coach in the big leagues. Walker would do well under his guidance. As a Mariners fan however, I hope that doesn’t happen.
I’ve always liked Wei-Yin Chen. He’s had his moments where he’s been a pretty good pitcher. If the Dodgers weren’t so stacked with starting pitching. I would take a chance on him.
I like the buy low move on jimmy nelson the Dodgers made
Same here! Not a Dodgers fan, but they are a well-run organization and know how to develop and acquire good players. As a Mariners fan I was hoping Seattle would have signed Nelson. Not holding my breath… when it comes to the Mariners, that can be hazardous to one’s health… but I hope they will sign Walker!
yea, for 1-2 million bucks, I mean come on–every team in baseball should be willing to give this guy a shot. he’s a dictionary definition of “low-risk, high-reward” in my opinion. well, okay, let’s say “medium reward,” but still…. I’d love my Phils to take a look at him.
I’ll say it again, Walker can’t pass a physical. Mariners tried a month ago and he failed the physical, that’s why he wasn’t signed back then. Dbacks let him go for the same reason. His arm is toast.
Complete lie
It’s not a lie. However, it’s not the arm that seems to be the issue, it’s his shoulder. The sprained shoulder capsule injury he suffered during rehab in may, lingered a lot longer than the expected 6-8 weeks. He was healthy enough to throw one inning in the end. However, there were local rumors that he was still having issues with it after the season ended. and that he might not be healthy enough to be a starter in 2020.
That is the only is the reason the Dbacks non-tendered him after two years on the IR. If they thought there was a good chance he would be healthy enough to be a starter early in the season, he would have been tendered. A healthy walker would be a definite upgrade over Leake or Kelly as the #5 in the rotation.
@Scottaz- I imagine with your name you have a local source that backs up your injury claim. Where did you read about the failed physical?
The mariners should get this done need all the arms we can get
Yeah, I really don’t understand why he hasn’t been targeted more by pitching needy teams, or even just in general, as you can never have enough pitching..
He did return and pitched an inning last season, so barring any setback, it should be safe to assume he would be ready to go for ST..Or is he still hurt or something??
I honestly don’t know, he has the pedigree, a decent track record, and he wont cost much at all, so what’s the hold up??
Even if he was asking for a larger amount of money, we would still hear about teams setting up meetings with him, and about his asking price most likely..No clue what going on here..
Was he low-key a lockerrom problem or something??
His arm is toast. He can’t pass the physical. Out of respect, neither the Dbacks nor the Mariners announced it. He barely made it through that one inning in the last Dbacks game of the season, without his arm falling off. They let him pitch one last inning in his career as a courtesy to him.
Stop pushing that false narrative. He could barely get thru the one inning huh? Hit 95 and sat 93-94 on last day of season. You are making crap up
Why would you’d say that? That’s just dumb.
why do you care so much? what has he cost you for you to be so emotionally invested?
He’s coming to the Twins.
Why not?
Gotta believe something is up with his health. He would of been signed by now. The D-Backs jumped off fast after last year when the buzz around was he would be back.
Sure. He would have been 2nd in the starting rotation based on his track record. And his 4th year arb projection was about $4.5M. Any team would keep him for that cheap salary, unless they had seen his medical reports. Dbacks don’t dish former players, so nothing was said, but everyone knew. His original team, the Mariners, took a look, but didn’t sign him a month ago. No one else has even been rumored to consider him. Why? Obviously, (the lack of) health issues.
Scott you realize you keep spouting the same nonsense, getting called out, and running away without a word. Right?
Yes he obviously has/had health issues but if his arm is toast or was toast for that 1 inning last season I’m sure Arizona wouldn’t let him take a chance on destroying his arm even more and he wouldn’t be able to hit mid 90s
It was painful to watch that last game. Myers blistered a ball to center for a double. The two batters before and after him hit hard balls directly at fielders for outs. Then Hosmer struck out. Walker was embraced by his catcher as he walked off the field, as if it was his farewell appearance.
Walker was expected back at the beginning of the season, but other arm/shoulder problems cropped up, keeping him out all year. We all knew something was up when he started that last game, and it was confirmed when the Dbacks didn’t offer him arb.
Could be teams are only offering minor league contracts while he may be hoping for a ML deal.
Well after doing a little investigation on Google his Twitter (which I don’t have one myself) said 1st bullpen tomorrow so if true hes obviously not done yet and his arm as of now is “fine”
I was hoping the Angels would come to their sense’s and sign this guy, looks like that ain’t happening..
Queue the idiots who whine about Grammar police….Dude, ain’t no way that sense be possessive.
Whatever the issues are I’d like to see this guy get back in track. Seems like health is the issue obviously, otherwise teams would have been all over him. Good luck, I hope he’s able to get back and continue his career.
Nice low cost depth piece for the BoSox … wait never mind. Chaim called ownership .. it was Walker or the hockey pucks in the urinals at Fenway … he choose the hockey pucks.
The overall lack of interest in Walker is surprising. He put some pretty good numbers prior to the injury and with so many teams needing help in the rotation it’s just crazy.
Why would someone sign weird yen chen
Surprised there’s not more reported interest in Walker. Seems to be high reward pick up that would benefit all 30 teams
The M’s are going to have a losing season, regardless if Walker goes out and wins a CY Young award. What are you hoping that they’ll recoup, trade bait? If he signs then he signs. If I was Walker I’d weigh my options too and look for the best landing spot for my career as well.
The M’s won’t compete until 2021.
The M’s May have a losing season but I think they’ll win more games than they did last year. Removing D Santana and Beckham plus adding a future GG defender at 1B will help their defense immensely.
If he was healthy he would be signed. He’s 27 years old.