The Phillies cut Walker after a brutal 9.13 ERA start, leaving a rotation gap to fill.
The Philadelphia Phillies are in trouble, and everyone knows it. Sitting at 8-16 on the season and riding an eight-game losing streak, the club made a move today that had been coming for weeks: the release of veteran starting pitcher Taijuan Walker. The right-hander posted a painful 9.13 ERA across five outings this season, surrendering eight home runs in just 22 and two-thirds innings. With Zack Wheeler returning from the injured list, the decision was made to cut ties entirely rather than shuffle the deck.
Walker’s departure carries a steep financial cost. The Phillies will absorb approximately $15 million in remaining salary from the final year of his four-year, $72 million contract, pushing the club’s total dead money this season to roughly $34 million when combined with the $19 million still owed to Nick Castellanos.
Now the rotation has a hole, and with the team desperate for answers, here are four pitchers who could step in and give Philadelphia a fighting chance.
Nestor Cortes, free agent
Cortes is the most polished option available on the open market right now. The left-hander had a rough 2025, appearing in just eight games between the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres while posting a 6.29 ERA, but injuries were largely to blame for that slide. His 2024 campaign with the New York Yankees told a different story: a 3.77 ERA across 31 appearances. With a 3.94 career ERA over eight seasons and 143 appearances, Cortes offers the kind of upside that makes him the most appealing free agent arm still available.
Phillies have released Taijuan Walker in the final season of his four year, $72 million deal. He posted a 9.13 ERA in five games this year pic.twitter.com/O27tVbAeyR
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 23, 2026
Marcus Stroman, free agent
Like Cortes, Stroman endured a difficult 2025, going just nine appearances deep while posting a 6.23 ERA. But his body of work over 11 major league seasons speaks louder than one rough year. He carries a 3.79 career ERA across 270 appearances and was an All-Star as recently as 2023 with the Chicago Cubs, when he put up a 3.95 ERA. His 2024 season with the Yankees landed at a respectable 4.31. Stroman has been a durable, reliable innings-eater for most of his career and should not be judged by one injury-affected season.
Patrick Sandoval, Boston Red Sox
For a team willing to explore the trade market, Sandoval presents an intriguing, if uncertain, option. The left-hander missed all of 2025 recovering from elbow surgery and is currently working through a minor league rehab assignment with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate. He was briefly shut down due to biceps soreness, though reports indicate it is not considered serious. There is no guarantee Sandoval returns to his pre-injury form, but for a Phillies team in need of a creative swing, he is a name worth calling about.
Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals
Bubic may be the most realistic trade target among pitchers currently on a major league roster. The Kansas City Royals sit at 8-17, and Bubic, who is set to become a free agent after this season, has been mentioned as a potential trade chip for months. He carries a 4.08 ERA across five starts in 2026 and was discussed heavily during the offseason as a name teams would pursue. With both clubs trending in the wrong direction early in the year, a deal could make sense for everyone involved if Kansas City is willing to listen.
The Phillies also recalled right-hander Nolan Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley today to fill a roster spot, with Alan Rangel optioned down to make room. But internal options alone are unlikely to be enough for a team with championship-level expectations. Philadelphia needs to be bold, and the clock is already ticking.