Dave Dombrowski’s latest comments indicate that Taijuan Walker is completely screwed.

Philadelphia Phillies The starting rotation is one of the best in the National League. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Christopher Sanchez were All-Star level in 2024. While not all of them were so honored, it shows the Phils have a strong core for next spring even if they don’t make it. I won’t take another step to solidify their rotation.

However, there was one flaw in the Phils’ rotation last season: was Taijuan Walker. The former Mets pitcher signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies in 2023. Walker didn’t justify his $18 million price tag, and Dave Dombrowski will stay with him for the next two years, barring a trade.

Dombrowski would happily throw Walker into an unsuspecting team, even if it meant investing prospect capital in his deal. The much more likely option, however, is that the Phillies pay Walker what he deserves over the next few years and eventually send him to the bullpen. Either that or they could arrest the 32-year-old. The choice is up to Dombrowski.

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Walker started 15 games this season and had an ERA over seven. He was so bad that the Phillies eventually moved Walker to the bullpen and then cut him from the lineup altogether after the season. Unlike 2023, this time Walker had no problem being left on the sidelines during the Phils’ short playoff run. He was that bad.

Dombrowski is fed up with Walker’s shenanigans, whether it was manager Rob Thomson’s call in 2023 or his terrible pitching in 2024 when he had a chance to turn it around. Well, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations has since heaped praise on former prospect Andrew Painter, who is expected to join the team’s rotation at some point in 2025.

Painter injured his right elbow in 2023 and underwent Tommy John surgery that summer. He is expected to be fully healthy in time for spring training, where the 21-year-old will have a chance to make the big league roster. Of course, it’s more likely that Painter will start in Triple-A and start work in mid-summer.

Either way, it’s bad news for Walker, who is already out in Philadelphia and far from a fan favorite.