Taijuan Walker (SEA, SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ team leagues

OWNED IN: 35% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: Walker was one my preseason picks for a breakout performance, and he proceeded to make me (and others) look foolish with a rough start to 2015. Yes, going off a strong Spring is foolish when it comes to starting pitchers. But check out his splits in 2014, in particular his strong September to finish the year. Walker's ADP soared this spring and had ownership rates hovering near 75%. There was reason to believe that Walker, only 22 years old, was starting to figure things out.

Safe to say early on Walker owners were getting plenty of use out of their stress ball. Jump to his May 24th outing at Toronto, his fifth time in nine outings in which he allowed more than four runs.  His ERA had jumped to 7.33 while sporting a 4.81 BB/9 rate and owners were jumping ship, with ownership dropping to 30%.

Just like the stock market, owners dumping stocks represented an opportunity for players to buy low (aka pay nothing but a FA transaction). Walker has rewarded owners who held firm and those who jumped on, completing eight innings in each of his last two outings with a combined three runs, one walk, and 15 punchouts.

I watched his last outing vs the Yankees and immediately noticed an adjustment; Walker was pounding the zone with his fastball and limited throwing "waste" pitches. Check out his pitch usage this year.

The only batter in which he did get cute was Alex Rodriguez, where he had an 0-2 count and proceeded to walk him on four straight pitches no where near the zone. Three batters later, Garrett Jones would take him deep for a 3-1 lead.

Am I buying Walker to turn things around and become a top 40 SP? Not necessarily. Check out his home/road splits.

26.2 innings is a small sample but it's not what I would call reassuring by any means. This, combined with the tendency to get himself in trouble with his control, are limiting his value. But a guy with this potential and ability to rack up Ks (8.24 K/9) should not be sitting in free agency. Available in 65% of leagues, check and see if he's out there. I don't think I have the stones to start him at Cleveland, but if he excels I expect the ownership levels to soar.