South Carolina Wide Receiver Could Be a Breakout Star for the Gamecocks

In a recent update, Houston Astros fans are facing a bit of a pitching dilemma after Luis Garcia suffered a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Reports indicate that Garcia has been shut down due to experiencing elbow soreness, which leaves the Astros slightly short on starting pitching depth. As a result, the Astros may be looking for external help to fill the gap.

One potential trade partner to keep an eye on is the Philadelphia Phillies. After the Phillies made a move in the offseason to acquire left-hander Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins, their rotation seems to be locked in. The projected starting five, as of Thursday, includes Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Luzardo, and Christopher Sanchez. However, there’s one player who may find himself on the outside looking in: right-hander Taijuan Walker.

Walker, who had a rough 2024 season with a career-high ERA of 7.10 across 19 games, has struggled to find consistency. In fact, he’s posted a sub-3.50 ERA just once in the past four seasons. With the Phillies’ rotation seemingly set, Walker could be a candidate for a change of scenery. A trade to a team like Houston could be a fresh start for the 31-year-old right-hander.

If the Astros were to pursue Walker, a potential deal could look like this:

Astros receive: RHP Taijuan Walker
Phillies receive: RHP James Hicks (HOU No. 20 prospect) and C/1B Jancel Villarroel (HOU No. 29 prospect)

This proposed trade would provide the Astros with additional starting pitching depth in place of Garcia while giving the Phillies two promising prospects for their future. Hicks, just 23 years old, and Villarroel, at only 20, are unlikely to make an immediate impact at the Major League level but offer long-term potential for Philadelphia’s system.

As the trade deadline approaches, it will be interesting to see if the Astros make a move to bolster their rotation and whether a change of scenery could help Walker get back on track. Stay tuned for more updates.