Seattle Mariners: The sentimental fan and strategic fan’s view on signing Taijuan Walker
The Sentimental View – Walker
Taijuan Walker doesn’t have a nickname, but he was also a fan favorite. He was a Seattle Mariners top prospect who made his debut around the same time Paxton did in 2013. The two-time Mariners pitcher didn’t have any special section or anything like that, but he was well-liked.
After the 2016 season concluded, Seattle traded Walker and Ketel Marte to the Diamondbacks for Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis. A deal that mostly didn’t work out for the Mariners. For his part, Walker did something that happens more often with the Mariners than other teams.
He returned after being away, joining an interesting group of players to do so. Raul Ibanez, Bret Boone, Ken Griffey Jr. are also part of that list. Sentimental fans cling to hope and an idea that these players are linked forever to the Mariners.
Right now, that fan is hoping to get Walker back to join Paxton as a much-needed righty on a lefty-dominated rotation.
Can the #Mariners sign taijuan Walker already please and thank you
— Circling Seattle Sports (@CirclingSports) February 17, 2021
The Strategists View – Walker
Walker had a healthy 2020, as much as anyone can claim that anyway. The Seattle Mariners were able to trade him at the deadline for a fringe prospect. He is another year removed from Tommy John surgery, but Walker bounced back well enough to pitch in the Major Leagues, as I said. Only 28-years-old, he hasn’t had a history of injuries like Paxton, but he also hasn’t thrown many innings in any of the seasons he’s pitched.
While Paxton gives any strategist multiple reasons to doubt why the Mariners were interested, Walker does not. The right-hander had a tremendous impact on the Blue Jays playoff run. Some of it was having luck on his side, but some of it was legit signs of an improving pitcher. Also, he’s 28, should be in his professional prime, and offers rotation balance.
Despite the potential positives, it would be a disaster for the development of Seattle’s pitching staff. Logan Gilbert is nearly a sure bet to make the rotation early in the season. CBS Sports projects George Kirby as a late-season call-up. Emmerson Hancock’s trajectory shouldn’t be impacted by a Walker signing this season, but it could bottleneck him behind Juan Then and LJay Newsome.
The last piece that the strategist would acknowledge as a stumbling block is what happens if Walker joins the team. It forces the Mariners to decide what to do with Justin Dunn (4-1 in 2020) and Nick Margevicius (2-3) before camp breaks on April 1st. Effectively ending their M’s starting pitcher prospect lives and forcing them back to the minors or into the bullpen.