Fansided

3 former Mets failing miserably on their new teams

By Cody Williams

Apr 26, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Michael Conforto (8) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Michael Conforto (8) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Mets, Taijuan Walker
Taijuan Walker, New York Mets. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/Syndication: The Enquirer /

2. Mets look smart for letting Taijuan Walker go to the Phillies

Taijuan Walker spent two years in New York and, after a middling first season with the Mets, he was one of the stalwarts of the rotation a season ago with arguably the best campaign of his career. In 2022, Walker posted a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP to compile a nice 12-5 record that helped propel the club into the postseason comfortably.

After his run with the Mets, though, the club wasn’t willing to pay up in the way that the Phillies were to the tune of a four-year, $72 million contract for the 30-year-old righty, which landed him on New York’s division rival for the 2023 season. And thus far, it’s looking like New York was the one making the right call in that situation.

Through six starts in Philadelphia, Walker is just 2-2 but has posted a ballooned 6.91 ERA and 1.60 WHIP, both of which are by far the highest of his career. What’s more, after posting a 132/45 strikeout-to-walk ratio a year ago, that figure is now a depressing 29/17.

Walker has dealt with some forearm tightness, which may be contributing to his struggles. But the fact of the matter is that the Phillies paid him to be one of the anchors of their rotation this season and he’s been anything but, leading to the team’s lackluster start after they made it to the World Series last year. And if he doesn’t start turning it around, Philadelphia will certainly feel less than thrilled about that investment.

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