Free Agent Pitcher Taijuan Walker Spurns Cubs to Sign With Mariners

Seattle is bringing back a familiar face to their starting pitching rotation.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Mariners and free agent pitcher Taijuan Walker are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract which will allow him to earn a maximum of $3 million if he meets all possible incentives.

Pitcher Taijuan Walker and the Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract, league sources tell ESPN. Walker can earn up to $3 million total based on incentives.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 12, 2020

Apart from the Mariners, Walker received serious interest from the suddenly frugal Chicago Cubs, who worked him out on Monday. The allure of pitching at Wrigley Field wasn't enough to overcome a $2 million offer from the team that handed him his MLB debut..

Walker was selected by the Mariners in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He spent four seasons with the team, accumulating a 4.18 ERA and 1.213 WHIP on a 22-22 record before he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was bitten by the injury bug in the worst way after the move, however, and underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, throwing just one inning this past season in his return.

He was non-tendered by Arizona this past December.

Taijuan Walker is going to come back to the team that drafted, developed and gave him his first opportunity in the big leagues, @RyanDivish reports. https://t.co/FNWbnVkvwv
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) February 12, 2020

In his last full season of work, Walker posted a 3.49 ERA. 1.33 WHIP, and a 9-9 record, along with 146 strikeouts in 157.1 innings pitched.

A homecoming might just be what the doctor ordered for Walker, as he has the opportunity to improve his stock once he hits the open market next winter.