Just a few days after being granted his release by the Los Angeles Angels, Taijuan Walker is back in the organization.

On Thursday, the Angels announced they had re-signed Walker to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Salt Lake. The veteran right-hander is starting Thursday night’s game for the Bees against Reno, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Walker, 33, began 2026 in the Philadelphia Phillies’ rotation but was released on April 23 following a rough start to the regular season. In five appearances (four starts), the right-hander allowed 23 earned runs and eight home runs over 22.2 innings, resulting in a 9.13 ERA. It marked the end of a disappointing four-year stint with the Phillies, who signed him to a $72 million contract ahead of the 2023 season.

A month after his release, Walker joined the Angels on a non-roster deal. He made a couple of appearances in the Complex League before reporting to Salt Lake, where he tossed 4.2 innings of two-run ball in his lone Triple-A start. The 14-year veteran triggered an opt-out in his contract on Monday, allowing him to test the market for a potential major league opportunity.

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With no major league opportunities presenting themselves, Walker will continue trying to rebuild his value in Triple-A. The former All-Star posted a 4.08 ERA over 34 appearances (21 starts) with Philadelphia last season, but his strikeout rate, walk rate, and WHIP have all been trending in the wrong direction in recent years.

Philadelphia remains on the hook for the remainder of Walker’s $18 million salary, meaning the Angels would pay him only the prorated $780,000 league minimum if he spends any time on their major league roster. Los Angeles does have an opening for the final rotation spot after losing Jack Kochanowicz to Tommy John surgery earlier this week, but Sam Aldegheri will get the first crack at filling that role during Friday’s series opener.

The Angels have a 27-42 record and are in last place in the American League West division. They hold the worst record in the AL and second-worst record in all of baseball behind the 26-43 Colorado Rockies.

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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.