The Philadelphia Phillies are facing serious challenges in their bullpen, especially following the suspension of Jose Alvarado. While Jordan Romano has started to show signs of improvement and Matt Strahm has delivered solid performances, the team is clearly missing Alvarado’s presence in late-game situations.
Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer was critical of Alvarado, calling his use of performance-enhancing drugs a “selfish” and “intentionally negligent” act that has hurt the team during what could be a historic season for the $296 million, luxury tax-paying club. Hayes noted that although the Phillies avoid naming a formal closer, Alvarado had effectively filled that role.
To cope with his absence, the Phillies may be turning to an unlikely bullpen option: Taijuan Walker. Signed for $72 million ahead of the 2023 season, Walker has underperformed and is now in a diminished role. However, Hayes suggests that Walker could prove useful in the bullpen, especially during this critical stretch.
According to Hayes, the team initially planned to use Walker in middle relief, as a long reliever, or for occasional spot starts roles he’s already filled, including two three-inning outings. With Alvarado sidelined and no immediate bullpen reinforcements available, manager Rob Thomson appears willing to test Walker in higher-leverage relief situations.
“I’m kind of excited to see him come out of the bullpen, just to see if the stuff plays up,” Thomson told reporters. He pointed to one standout performance in Tampa and solid early innings in another outing as reasons for optimism.
At this point, trying Walker in late-inning situations represents a low-risk, high-reward experiment. If he finds success, the Phillies can extract value from a costly contract. If not, it might give the team a reason to move on. With the trade deadline approaching, using internal options creatively may be Philadelphia’s best move for now.
