The Phillies have reached a minor-league deal with veteran infielder Neil Walker, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter). There’s a big-league camp invite; other details remain unknown.
Walker, 34, was once a sturdy MLB regular at second base. But he has functioned as more of a part-time corner player — first, third, and the outfield as well — over the past two seasons. He could battle with former Pirates teammate Josh Harrison and others for a utility role in Philly.
It’s a reasonable opportunity, but this still represents yet another suboptimal trip onto the open market for Walker. He took a qualifying offer from the Mets in 2017 and seemingly made good on the bet with another season of solidly above-average hitting. To that point of his career, Walker was a .272/.341/.437 hitter through more than four thousand MLB plate appearances. But he ran into the same headwinds that impacted so many others and ultimate landed with the Yankees on a surprisingly light, late-breaking contract. Hamstring and back issues no doubt hurt his market standing as well.
As it turned out, Walker hit a wall at the plate in the 2018 campaign. He was left with a $2MM deal with the Marlins. The results were improved in 2019, as Walker turned in an approximately league-average .261/.344/.395 output in 381 plate appearances. But that came despite judicious platoon deployment by the Fish. Walker has long carried yawning platoon splits and is best held to facing right-handed pitching.
Go Iron Pigs!
Keep me coming Klentak! At least one of the four recent deals is sure to work out, right?
Keep THEM coming lol. BIG difference!
I’ll say.
I was gonna say, the signings weren’t THAT exciting, haha.
I love my team, but not in that way.
Brings a whole new meaning ton”Around the Horn”
A minor league deal?
A barrel roll.
First Liriano and Josh Harrison, now Walker joins McCutchen. They’re putting back together the 2013-2015 Pittsburgh Pirates.
I mean, those Pirates weren’t awful in 2013. Liriano can still go and Harrison isn’t terrible, and it never hurts to have depth as we saw from the Yankees last year. Even if they don’t make the roster out of camp, you know someone’s gonna go down and they’ll get a chance eventually.
Also like the Yankees, the incumbent at whatever IF position goes down may never get his job back.
I do not think Harrison or Walker will steal a job from a regular infielder that may go down with an injury. Maybe 4-5 years ago but both Neil and Josh are both more likely to be in the IL than the starters with the Phils. Both have been on the IL a bunch the last few years.
Walker at least is a bench favorite given how bad this bench was last year. Harrison probably has another unless he’s total garbage in the spring.
Came here to say this. Just need Jordy Mercer and Pedro Alvarez to round out the IF.
Don’t forget Russell Martin
Bobby Bonilla anyone?
He’s still under contract
Is Bobby Bo still getting paid?
He’ll still be getting paid after Bryce Harper’s contract is up
Marte trade could really bring back the 2013-2015 Pirates. Russell Martin is available too.
I thought for sure they would to this for more for pitching. SPs,BPs, low risk high reward. why more infielders.
Liriano is an infielder?
maybe he’s one of those guys who read “Lindor” on the Liriano headline?
Good signing. Switch hitting depth.
For some reason he’s always scares me at the plate a little bit, just looks like a baller.
As much as some fans will complain about these minor moves, depth was the Phillies biggest problem in 2019. Moves like this address that issue. I dig it.
I like it too. You get a few weeks out of these guys or if one is really effective then its money well spent. These are all insurance buys. I like it and they’ll provide knowledge and experience to the kids. Everything has to go right but this team has an outside chance if a few things happen and go their way. If they jump out to a good record then at the deadline they can bring in the calvary
Von, exactly!
@AllRiseForTheJudge I know, the 2013 Pirates were really good, but I wouldn’t rely on Harrison, Cutch, or Liriano to produce like they did then. Harrison and Liriano are nice depth pieces, and McCutchen is still very productive, even if he never reaches those MVP levels again.
Josh Harrison wasn’t really a factor in 2013. Neil was at 2nd and Pedro Alvarez was at 3rd. Harrison only had 88 at bats. 2014 is when he became the super utility guy.
getting closer to Pittsburgh for that one last season in black and gold….
I like this as a depth move. Will probably play a similar role to what Brad Miller played late last season.
Lots of moves today and yesterday.
I’m lovin it ™
I figured Walker would get a big league deal somewhere. He had a decent year in 2019. He’s not as good as he once was, but he is better than a AAA guy right now.
Harrison was wretched last year. Completely unusable.
Getting Starlin Marte would be the right soon to be ex-Pirate to add…though the Mets look like they have a better group of players to get a deal done with for him.
It’s a good thing they aren’t trying to use him last year then.
Klentak has decided to shop at the thrift store
Surprised he couldn’t get a guaranteed job even at the league’s veteran minimum for his years of service. I’d gladly take Walker as my 25th or 26th man. His day of starting all year is over but he’s handy to have on the bench especially in the NL.
My out of shape 47 year old neighbor is working on his knuckleball. I’ve been talking to Klentak and we’re close to a signing.
why don’t you get the hate out of your heart for Philadelphia, check out a couple more articles and realize that EVERY team makes these kind of signings. They’re minor league deals aka no risk. What are you even doing here typing?
i know no one wants to hear it but it seems that Klentak has gotten a lot of quality recently while successfully navigating payroll restrictions. still need another SP, but maybe a signing like this is in the cards. get Taijuan in here and we’re ready roll.
dude go fishing. Go play with your kids. take a trip. Why stuggle to be something that is over. you got millions of dollars go have fun
@David Makai, I have no hate for Philly. I was born there and now live in south Jersey. I’ve been a full season Phillies ticket holder for 15 years. It’s a joke mostly stated because of the Norris and Storen signings. Jump to conclusions much?
my bad
I was hoping Reds would pick up Walker he would be good backup for Votto on 1st base & pinch hit
WheezeKids 2020
An actual LOL here.
When is Marte packing up for Philly?
Klentak hitting the dollar stores again.
I always liked Walker’s story. Born and raised in Pittsburgh and drafted by them out of HS. Had a slow start to his minor league career, but turned out to be a pretty good pro.
Just lookie at all the really neat guys we get to invite to camp so we can pay Bryce $30M+ a year…….
so they wouldn’t make canny minors signings if they didnt have a high payroll? seems like a bad policy.
Many of you will probably throw vegetables and rotten fruit at me for this, but I think the best move the Phils could have made this off season was not even considered……..I think they should have traded Hoskins for a starter and reliever…………There were multiple players available to play first who will hit better than Rhys……….they could have gotten an excellent return for him and his value will never be higher than it was this off season……he was one of the worst hitters in the majors after the AS break last year and it was not just a slump……I think everyone is going to be VERY disappointed in his performance this year………..
i dont thinl Hoskins is nearly as good as people believe he is, but i also dont think there was any chance they would have traded him regardless.
Unless he has a breakout year, I agree with you. He doesn’t have a strong glove and sometimes completely misses throws.
With a new hitting coach maybe he’ll get away from that stupid launch angle philosophy. Also. Not everything has to be pulled.
it’s better to gamble on a bounce back season from Hoskins than trade him for another roll of the dice. Let’s be honest, if Phillies were to put Hoskins on the trade market now, who would they get back in return? Probably no one with an under 4.00 ERA last year in 160+ IP right? We gotta bet on him to bounce back because the return would be lackluster
When I read all these transactions, I don’t know whether I should buy a Sunday ticket package or crank one out.
Looking at a possible platoon situation at either 3b or shortstop, depending on where Didi settles in.
I think Kingery is too valuable to lock in at just one position. For all the hate he endured, I still think the Phils will miss Maikel and Cesar played a big part in that lineup.
Phils still need dependable starters after Nola and Wheeler or they will be sellers in mid-July.
Insurance for Bohm. They can keep Kingery at 2B.
Phils clubhouse manager in Clearwater has been told to change the after game buffet to mostly soft foods…..canes will also be provided near the exit door to the parking lot…..
I bet the Phils could talk Lenny into coming back if they provided him with some roids…….he needs the money……