The Philadelphia Phillies made a surprising move this winter with their biggest roster change. Despite having one of the deepest and most effective starting rotations in baseball, the team decided to trade for Miami Marlins pitcher Jesús Luzardo.
This addition further strengthened their staff and has shaped their identity heading into the season. As All-Star starter Ranger Suárez returned from an injury to make his season debut on Sunday, the Phillies had to choose whether to move a current starter to the bullpen or opt for a rare six-man rotation. The team decided to shift veteran Taijuan Walker into a relief role. Now,
could he get the chance to close games? The Phillies have struggled to find a reliable closer after losing Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez to free agency. Their bullpen currently boasts one of the highest ERAs in baseball at 4.71. In his first game as a reliever,
it was evident the Phillies are considering using Walker in high-leverage situations, as they asked him to warm up before the 10th inning in Sunday’s tough loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. As Matt Gelb noted in The Athletic, Manager Rob Thomson’s decision to send Walker to the bullpen in the ninth inning shows his willingness to adjust. Entering the third year of his four-year, $72 million deal with the Phillies, Walker is focused on regaining his velocity after a difficult 2024 season. That improvement could be key as the Phillies search for bullpen help.
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