Report: Phillies, Taijuan Walker agree to 4-year, $72M deal

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a four-year, $72-million contract with free-agent right-hander Taijuan Walker, a source told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

The deal doesn't contain any opt-out clauses or option years, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Walker, who spent the last two seasons with the New York Mets, strengthens the back end of Philadelphia's rotation behind Aaron Nola and ex-Met Zack Wheeler. He'll also fill the spot vacated by Zach Eflin, who was moved to the bullpen during the postseason and then left for Tampa Bay in free agency.

Phillies' projected rotation

The 30-year-old heads to Philadelphia after two solid seasons in Flushing. Walker posted a 3.49 ERA, 3.65 FIP, and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts over 29 starts for the Mets last season. He was an All-Star during his first year in New York.

A former first-round pick of the Seattle Mariners, Walker owns a 54-50 record with a 3.89 ERA, 4.19 FIP, and 1.23 WHIP across parts of 10 big-league seasons between the Mariners, Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Walker is Philadelphia's second major free-agent signing in as many days, following the reigning NL champion's reported 11-year, $300-million agreement with star shortstop Trea Turner.

The Phillies weren't done there, however, as they're also finalizing a two-year, $15-million contract with left-handed reliever Matt Strahm, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Strahm, 31, posted a 3.83 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and four saves across 50 appearances with the Boston Red Sox in 2022. The seven-year veteran adds a second lefty to the Phillies bullpen alongside Jose Alvarado.