The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2026 season hoping to finally move past some of the expensive roster decisions that had weighed on the club in recent years. And after years of struggles and changing roles with the team, veteran starter Taijuan Walker became a victim of that need for change when he was released earlier this season.
After the Phillies released him despite a significant remaining salary commitment, Walker attempted to revitalize his career with another organization. But it appears that opportunity was short lived as he’s now back on the free agent market.
Former Philadelphia Phillies Veteran Quickly Cut By Los Angeles Angels
“The Angels have granted right-hander Taijuan Walker his unconditional release, according to an announcement from the team’s Triple-A affiliate at Salt Lake,” MLB Trade Rumors’ AJ Eustace reported. “Walker signed a minor league pact with the Halos on June 11th, his second with the organization since being released by the Phillies in late April.”
The move is particularly notable because Walker lasted only five games with the Angels organization before being released. It represents another setback for the former All-Star, who was once viewed as one of baseball’s more dependable mid-rotation starters.
Walker earned an All-Star selection with the New York Mets in 2021 and spent four seasons with the Phillies after signing a four-year, $72 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. However, his performance steadily declined, eventually leading Philadelphia to move on.
“The 33-year-old veteran was cut loose by the Phillies after recording a ghastly 9.13 ERA across 22 2/3 innings earlier this season,” George Bissell wrote for NBC Sports. “He would make sense as an emergency stopgap solution somewhere, but it’s challenging to envision Walker having any sustained fantasy relevance at this stage of his career.”
Philadelphia Phillies Get Update From $72 Million Disappointment
Even though Walker is no longer with the organization, the Phillies remain financially connected to the veteran right-hander.
“The financial cost isn’t an issue, as the Phillies are still on the hook for Walker’s $18MM guaranteed salary this year,” Eustace added. “Any team that brings Walker up would only owe him the prorated $780K big league minimum, which would be subtracted from the Phillies’ tab.”
That financial reality means another team could take a low-risk chance on Walker if it believes there is still something left in the tank. Given the constant demand for pitching depth across Major League Baseball, another opportunity could emerge.
Still, the fact that Walker was released after only five appearances with the Angels organization highlights how far his stock has fallen since his All-Star days and productive stretches with clubs like the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Mets.
For the Phillies, Walker’s departure is largely old news. For the veteran right-hander, however, the search for another major-league opportunity now begins again.
