Heyman: Mets Not Giving Qualifying Offer To Taijuan Walker

The New York Mets have decided against extending the qualifying offer to right-handed pitcher Taijuan Walker, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Walker rejected a $7.5 million player option earlier this week and, with the Mets deciding not to pick up the $19.65 million qualifying offer, the righty will now hit free agency with no restrictions and will not be subject to draft pick compensation. Free agency opens at 5 p.m. ET tonight.

However, also per Heyman, the Mets will extend qualifying offers to pitchers Jacob deGrom and Chris Bassitt, and to outfielder Brandon Nimmo. All three will likely reject but it means the team will receive draft pick compensation if any of the trio sign elsewhere.

It is perhaps somewhat of a surprise that the Mets haven’t extended the qualifying offer to Walker, who gave the team two very solid years of baseball. After being signed as a free agent prior to the start of the 2021 season, the 30-year-old pitched to a superb 2.66 ERA in the first half before falling off after the All-Star break.

That was understandable given his lack of game time in the three years prior, but he bounced back in 2022 and was a valuable member of the rotation. In 29 starts, Walker went 12-5 with a 3.49 ERA, walking just 45 and striking out 132 in 157.1 innings pitched with a 1.195 WHIP and a 2.6 WAR.

Walker provided the Mets with some excellent depth after deGrom, Max Scherzer and Bassitt in the rotation, and he will likely receive plenty of interest in free agency from teams seeking a solid starter that can shore up the bottom of the rotation and be a dependable arm. For the Mets, it means they have plenty of work to do when it comes to pitching with deGrom and Bassitt both hitting the open market, although the team did pick up the $14 million option on Carlos Carrasco earlier today.