The Angels have signed right-hander Taijuan Walker to a minor league deal, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Walker was released by the Phillies earlier this season. He is a client of CAA Sports.
Walker, 33, certainly made an impact in Philadelphia this year, and not in a good way. In five appearances (four starts), Walker allowed a staggering 23 earned runs and eight home runs in just 22 2/3 innings. Almost nothing was going right for him, with Walker’s strikeout rate, walk rate, and WHIP all trending in the wrong direction from last year. The Phillies, needing a rotation spot for the returning Zack Wheeler, decided to release Walker on April 23rd.
There is no financial risk in the Angels taking a flier on Walker. At the time of his release, Walker was earning $18MM in the final season of a four-year, $72MM pact with the Phillies. The Angels will only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent in the Majors, which will be subtracted from the Phillies’ tab. Regardless of Walker’s underwhelming recent track record, at least he won’t cost the Angels a lot of money.
Of course, his being cheap doesn’t inspire confidence in Walker’s ability to help the Angels. The righty had a 7.10 ERA in 83 2/3 innings in 2024 and allowed two and a half home runs per nine innings. Walker split 2025 between the rotation and bullpen, with mediocre results in both roles. His 4.25 ERA was serviceable but came despite a below average 14.7% strikeout rate. Meanwhile, Walker’s 3.15 ERA as a reliever disguised an ugly 11.8% walk rate, and his 5.14 FIP put his true talent two runs higher than his ERA. Even if Walker improves on his small sample from earlier this year, he’s at best a No. 5 starter now.
More to come.
It’s official: Arte Moreno AND Perry Minasian don’t know what they’re doing
Walker lost the drive after he banked some money. This game is as much about drive to succeed and drive to perform as it is about talent. Unless he regains ambition and motivation nothing will happen. He may try to perform for second half of 2026 to land 2-3 year contract but after that he will probably lose the ambition
Wouldn’t it be great if he could be motivated for the 2nd half.
When you bring in someone new, it goes up or down for the group.
Walton/meckler, already went up.
Could Walker come and around the 6th and issue a hold
Could he came in and get 3 outs
Note: can Mr suter work one clean inning.?
This signing of Walker is good.
Who knows maybe he was an angel fan as a kid.
Or maybe he has some kind of affinity for Mr Moreno
Love this signing
I am still counting on Kurt and the angels to go on a run. At least get back in the race. Walker could get you 3 outs.
There isn’t a single person alive that has “some kind of affinity for Mr Moreno”.
hmmm his wife and kids?
Welcome home papa!
After the Phillies cut him, I honestly thought it was the Mexican League or bagging groceries for him.
Yea because a guy who made 107 million in his career needs to bag groceries. Some of you need to think before posting or just not post at all.
@13Morgs13
From Merriam-Webster.com, sarcasm.
“a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on ironic and usually bitter and caustic language often directed against an individual”
Excellent post good sir!
Playing for the Angels is bagging groceries
I find it hard to believe China really wants to claim this guy as part of their country.
This is a pitcher they deserve!!!
This should help turn things around.
Yup. How many losses will he contribute to before he is DFA’d. Another brilliant Perry move.
OH BOY!!!!!!!!!
Another Perry project.
Don’t worry we are gonna fix him like all the other players we have “fixed”
Great move if this was 2021
Datum Phillies gave him a $54M contract That’s so stooped.