technical details
  1. is_video => true
  2. is_chrome_page => null
  3. article_body => "<p>H<strong>ot Stove season is here, and NBC Sports Chicago is taking a look at free agents who could fit the Cubs\u2019 needs \u2014 and budget. Next up is Blue Jays starting pitcher Taijuan Walker.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The Cubs didn\u2019t want starting pitcher Taijuan Walker the last time he was available in free agency. Could it come down to whether Walker wants the Cubs this time around?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Walker, 28, worked out for the Cubs early in spring training this past February, coming off a two-season stretch where he only made four starts due to Tommy John surgery and his subsequent recovery. Two days after that workout, he signed a one-year deal with the Mariners.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>But this time could be different.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Three Cubs starting pitchers \u2014 Tyler Chatwood, Jon Lester and Jos\u00e9 Quintana \u2014 are free agents, and only Lester seems likely to return, should any, as he and the club have expressed interest in a reunion. The <a data-timestamp=\"1606359011\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-rumors-giants-interested-cubs-free-agent-jon-lester\">Giants are rumored to be interested<\/a> in him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Lester\u2019s return would give the Cubs five starting pitchers, along with Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay, but they\u2019ll be in the market for starting pitching whether or not the veteran lefty is back next season.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>If a Lester-Cubs reunion doesn't happen, Walker is a good fallback option to fill out the rotation who could come in with similar expectations. He\u2019s a high-upside arm that might be available at a comfortable price tag for the Cubs, who are in cost-cutting mode after a season of revenue losses and, according to new team president Jed Hoyer, have a payroll \u201crange\u201d for 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>MORE:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/cubs-jed-hoyer-keeps-eye-future-amid-eye-winter-roster-storm\">Cubs' Jed Hoyer keeps eye on future amid eye of winter roster storm<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Walker, who spent four seasons with the Mariners and three with the Diamondbacks from 2013-19 before returning to Seattle this past season, sported a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts in 2020. Six of those starts came with the Blue Jays \u2014 Seattle dealt him at the trade deadline \u2014 and he posted a 1.37 ERA with Toronto.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>He faced a wider variety of teams than most starting pitchers, taking the bump against clubs in the AL and NL West, and the AL and NL East, during the shortened season with regional schedules.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Two of Walker's best starts, where he pitched a season-high seven innings on both occasions, came against playoff teams in the A's and Dodgers, too. However, his overall peripherals (4.56 FIP, .243 BABIP) along with his above average walk rate (3.2&nbsp;per nine innings) suggested there was a little bit of good luck in his ERA.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The most significant part of Walker\u2019s season is he seemed healthy after a lengthy road back to the mound. Before undergoing surgery, he averaged 27&nbsp;starts from 2015-17, and while his four-seam fastball velocity is down (93.5 in 2020) from his first few seasons, it wasn\u2019t too far off from his career average (94.4).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>If he\u2019s healthy, Walker is a solid back end of the rotation arm with the chance to pitch more like a mid-rotation guy, one that could be available for a bargain. That, along with his age, will make him appealing to a number of teams, and the Cubs could be one of them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Cubs free agent focus series<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agency-focus-how-mike-minor-fits-cubs-starting-rotation\">How Mike Minor fits with Cubs<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-how-cubs-could-get-creative-add-brad-hand\">How Cubs could get creative to add Brad Hand<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-tommy-la-stella-has-skill-set-cubs-need-again\">Tommy La Stella has skill set Cubs need \u2014 again<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-why-cubs-veteran-mark-melancon-could-be-match\">Why Cubs, veteran Mark Melancon could be a match<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-why-cubs-should-take-flier-chris-archer\">Why Cubs should take a flier on free agent Chris Archer<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-how-jake-arrieta-could-be-cubs-insurance-policy\">Why Jake Arrieta could be good insurance for Cubs<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-how-cubs-could-find-window-sign-jackie-bradley-jr\">How Cubs could find window to sign Jackie Bradley Jr.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cubs-talk-podcast\/episodes\/72a00ad5-142e-41b7-8b5c-577f491315f9\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1606348396\" data-url-provider=\"ART19\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<drupal-entity data-embed-button=\"app_promo_embed\" data-entity-embed-display=\"view_mode:block_content.full\" data-entity-type=\"block_content\" data-entity-uuid=\"84a634bd-85a1-4e39-9e2a-7d404e5646e3\" data-langcode=\"en\"><\/drupal-entity>\r\n"
  4. created => 1606348337
  5. changed => 1606359015
  6. status => true
  7. hero_image_credit => "USA TODAY"
  8. tags => null
  9. field_bean_single_col => null
  10. section => null
  11. orig_image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"1280","height":"720","uri":"public:\/\/article\/hero\/walker_t_USATSI_14853911.jpg","timestamp":1606348337}
  12. image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"1280","height":"720","uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2020\/11\/25\/walker_t_USATSI_14853911.jpg","timestamp":1606348337}
  13. video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/video\/cubs-free-agent-focus-taijuan-walker"
  14. is_mediaid => true
  15. mediaid => "yethG_8SRfx1"
  16. video_autoplay => null
  17. video_automute => null
  18. mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
  19. player_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/vplayer\/p\/BxmELC\/chicago_main\/select\/media\/yethG_8SRfx1?form=html&autoPlay=true"
  20. chrome_data => null
  21. description => "If he\u2019s healthy, Walker is a solid back end of the rotation arm with the chance to pitch more like a mid-rotation guy, one that could be available for a bargain. "
  22. league => "MLB"
  23. league_id => "98"
  24. sport => "Baseball"
  25. sport_id => "5"
  26. image_credit => "USA TODAY"
  27. no_promo => false
  28. no_trending_in_body => false
  29. no_recirc => false
  30. no_trend => false
  31. short_title => "Why Taijuan Walker is a potential high-upside arm for Cubs"
  32. sponsorship_type => "presented_by"
  33. topic => "MLB Free Agency"
  34. topic_id => "21126"
  35. type => "article"
  36. alias => "\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-why-taijuan-walker-could-offer-cubs-high-upside"
  37. title => "MLB free agent focus: Why Taijuan Walker could offer Cubs high-upside"
  38. nid => "196406"
  39. author_0 => "Tim Stebbins"
  40. author_0_id => "6476"
  41. mps => {"author_0":"Tim Stebbins"}
  42. region => "chicago"
  43. region_id => "4"
  44. sponsor => null
  45. sponsor_id => null
  46. team_id => "75"
  47. team => "Cubs"
  48. published => 1606348800
  49. article_type => "short"
  50. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/chicago\/cubs\/mlb-free-agent-focus-why-taijuan-walker-could-offer-cubs-high-upside.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2020\/11\/25\/walker_t_USATSI_14853911.jpg"]}
Cubs

/ by Tim Stebbins
Cubs

Hot Stove season is here, and NBC Sports Chicago is taking a look at free agents who could fit the Cubs’ needs — and budget. Next up is Blue Jays starting pitcher Taijuan Walker.

The Cubs didn’t want starting pitcher Taijuan Walker the last time he was available in free agency. Could it come down to whether Walker wants the Cubs this time around?

Walker, 28, worked out for the Cubs early in spring training this past February, coming off a two-season stretch where he only made four starts due to Tommy John surgery and his subsequent recovery. Two days after that workout, he signed a one-year deal with the Mariners.

But this time could be different.

Three Cubs starting pitchers — Tyler Chatwood, Jon Lester and José Quintana — are free agents, and only Lester seems likely to return, should any, as he and the club have expressed interest in a reunion. The Giants are rumored to be interested in him.

Lester’s return would give the Cubs five starting pitchers, along with Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay, but they’ll be in the market for starting pitching whether or not the veteran lefty is back next season. 

If a Lester-Cubs reunion doesn't happen, Walker is a good fallback option to fill out the rotation who could come in with similar expectations. He’s a high-upside arm that might be available at a comfortable price tag for the Cubs, who are in cost-cutting mode after a season of revenue losses and, according to new team president Jed Hoyer, have a payroll “range” for 2021.

 

MORE: Cubs' Jed Hoyer keeps eye on future amid eye of winter roster storm

Walker, who spent four seasons with the Mariners and three with the Diamondbacks from 2013-19 before returning to Seattle this past season, sported a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts in 2020. Six of those starts came with the Blue Jays — Seattle dealt him at the trade deadline — and he posted a 1.37 ERA with Toronto.

He faced a wider variety of teams than most starting pitchers, taking the bump against clubs in the AL and NL West, and the AL and NL East, during the shortened season with regional schedules.

Two of Walker's best starts, where he pitched a season-high seven innings on both occasions, came against playoff teams in the A's and Dodgers, too. However, his overall peripherals (4.56 FIP, .243 BABIP) along with his above average walk rate (3.2 per nine innings) suggested there was a little bit of good luck in his ERA. 

The most significant part of Walker’s season is he seemed healthy after a lengthy road back to the mound. Before undergoing surgery, he averaged 27 starts from 2015-17, and while his four-seam fastball velocity is down (93.5 in 2020) from his first few seasons, it wasn’t too far off from his career average (94.4).

If he’s healthy, Walker is a solid back end of the rotation arm with the chance to pitch more like a mid-rotation guy, one that could be available for a bargain. That, along with his age, will make him appealing to a number of teams, and the Cubs could be one of them.

Cubs free agent focus series

How Mike Minor fits with Cubs

How Cubs could get creative to add Brad Hand

Tommy La Stella has skill set Cubs need — again

Why Cubs, veteran Mark Melancon could be a match

Why Cubs should take a flier on free agent Chris Archer

Why Jake Arrieta could be good insurance for Cubs

How Cubs could find window to sign Jackie Bradley Jr.

Download
Download MyTeams Today!