Taijuan Walker’s days as a Philadelphia Phillie are officially over. The Phillies on Thursday released the veteran right-handed pitcher in a series of roster moves amid an eight-game losing streak.
The Phils also recalled righty reliever Nolan Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and optioned Alan Rangel to the IronPigs.
Walker’s release comes after he allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings in Philadelphia’s 7-2 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.
The Phillies signed Walker to a four-year, $72 million contract in 2022 and the free-agent signing was a miss. Â
After a serviceable 2025, the 33-year-old had a disastrous start to the 2026 season. He was 1-4 in five games with a 9.13 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .353/.417/.657 against him, which The Athletic’s Jayson Stark found was nearly identical to Joe DiMaggio’s slash line during the season of his record 56-game hitting streak.
Walker ends his Phillies career going 24-25 with a 5.12 ERA in 402 2/3 innings in 89 games.
The 28-year-old Hoffman joins the Phillies’ bullpen after allowing two runs in 7 2/3 innings with 14 strikeouts in seven appearances with the IronPigs this season. He made his major league debut last season with the Phillies after being acquired in a June trade.
Rangel struck out a career-high five batters and allowed one run on three hits in the Phillies’ 7-2 loss Wednesday.
The Phillies will look to avoid being swept for the second straight series Thursday afternoon in Chicago before heading to Atlanta. Zack Wheeler makes his season debut Saturday night.