{"id":40498,"date":"2020-11-12T18:29:26","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T23:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=40498"},"modified":"2024-12-28T10:55:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-28T15:55:34","slug":"potential-landing-spots-for-taijuan-walker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2020\/11\/12\/potential-landing-spots-for-taijuan-walker\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential Landing Spots for Taijuan Walker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most of the talk this offseason will center around free agent starting pitcher and Cy Young<\/a><\/strong> Award winner Trevor Bauer<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Bauer is an ace and should receive multiple offers. However, there are several other pitching candidates that teams will target. Among them is right-hander Taijuan Walker<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Walker is a former 2010 first-round draft pick. After an up and down three seasons with the Seattle Mariners<\/a> from 2013-2016, Walker was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> in November of 2016.<\/p>\n

Walker is the kind of low-risk, high-reward type of player that can make a team’s GM look like a genius. With that being said, Walker’s career record over his seven-year career is only 35-34. But, he made only two starts from 2018-2019 due Tommy John<\/a><\/strong> surgery. Despite missing so much time, Walker came on strong last season after signing a free-agent deal with the Mariners going 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts in five starts. At the trade deadline, Walker was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> where he went 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA with another 25 strikeouts in six starts. There is certainly a lot to like about Walker and he has a lot of upside. He owns a career 3.84 ERA and 528 strikeouts in only 105 starts. Here, we take a look at several potential landing spots for the free-agent hurler.<\/p>\n

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Detroit Tigers<\/h2>\n

Just recently, the Detroit Tigers<\/a> have expressed an interest<\/a> in Walker. Obviously, the Tigers are attempting to build for the future. Detroit’s regular starting pitchers went 9-21 this past season with a combined ERA of 6.77. It’s apparent that the Tigers need more stability from the starting rotation. Adding a player like Walker would do just that.<\/p>\n

He would come in and immediately slot behind Matthew Boyd<\/a><\/strong> as the Tiger’s number two starter. After agreeing with former Houston Astros<\/a> skipper AJ Hinch<\/a><\/strong> to be their new manager<\/a>, the Tigers are making moves to win now. Adding a pitcher like Walker will only expedite the winning process.<\/p>\n

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New York Yankees<\/h2>\n

After not extending a qualifying offer to RHP Masahiro Tanaka<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> declining an option on LHP J.A. Happ<\/a><\/strong> and not expecting to re-sign LHP James Paxton<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> the New York Yankees<\/a> will be in need of starting pitching. Taijuan Walker<\/a> is exactly the sort of player that Yankees GM Brian Cashman is known for taking a chance on. Behind ace Gerrit Cole<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> Walker would slot in as the number three or four starter and allow the younger Yankee arms more time to develop.<\/p>\n

In fact, The Yankees showed interest in obtaining<\/a> Walker before the 2020 MLB trade deadline. If the Yankees aren’t looking to spend big in the free-agent market, Walker is an excellent alternative to the bigger name pitchers.<\/p>\n

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Atlanta Braves<\/h2>\n

With Atlanta Braves<\/a> players Cole Hamels<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> Marcell Ozuna<\/a>,<\/strong> and Mark Melancon<\/a><\/strong> all coming off the books, the Braves will have some extra money to spend on a rotation arm. As a result, Walker could be just the pitcher they target. In a season that also saw injuries to starters Mike Soroka<\/a> and Max Fried<\/a><\/strong> as well as Felix Hernandez<\/a><\/strong> opting out due to COVID-19<\/a>, the Braves still managed to win the NL East.<\/p>\n

Arguably, a full season of\u00a0 Walker in the rotation along with Fried and Soroka gives the Braves a three-headed monster. With a loaded offense and a healthy pitching staff, the Braves would be among World Series favorites in 2021.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/h2>\n

After a solid 2020 campaign, Taijuan Walker has an opportunity to rejuvenate his career. Despite injuries shortening several of his seasons, Walker will get the chance to prove he is a viable and productive starter. Whichever team signs Walker will potentially be getting the steal of the offseason. He is a complete pitcher with a four-pitch arsenal. If he can remain healthy, Walker will be a huge get for any MLB team.<\/p>\n

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