The fifth starter spot became a carousel for the Phillies in 2024. They still owe Taijuan Walker $36 million, but how can they address their one glaring hole in the rotation?
A shoulder injury landed presumptive fifth starter Taijuan Walker on the injured list in the final week of spring training, so the Phillies turned to Spencer Turnbull to start the season in the rotation. Turnbull became the first of six pitchers who got a chance in that fifth slot.Some stuck around for a few weeks. A few got multiple call-ups.
“We like Ranger a lot. I mean, understandably so,” Dombrowski said. “And we like the Ranger the first half of the season better than the second half. There was a lot that was involved in that from his own perspective. But he’s a good pitcher. We’re all very open-minded to have Ranger in the organization for a long time.”After the worst season of his career, Walker is set to follow a detailed winter program aimed at rediscovering the 2022 form that netted him his current $72 million contract.
“He’s approaching it as if he’s got to win a job. And so I think knowing Tai, he’s going to give his best effort to get this thing done,” Thomson said. That determination will be made after Painter finishes his stint in the Arizona Fall League. The 21-year-old has pitched seven innings across three appearances in the AFL, including three scoreless innings on Thursday. In his first real game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Painter’s heaterMoving further down the pipeline, No. 6 overall prospect Mick Abel’s outlook is a bit more cloudy.
“It does make it a more difficult chore in the sense that you’re not sure when going to come back,” Dombrowski said. “If you sign somebody and they’re looking for a chance to get the ball on an everyday basis, there’s some complexities in it, but nothing that’s insurmountable.”
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