New York Mets reach deal with right-hander Taijuan Walker, source says

The New York Mets have reached a two-year deal with free-agent starting pitcher Taijuan Walker that is worth $20 million guaranteed, a source confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

The deal, which is pending a physical, also includes a third-year player option, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Right-handed Walker, 28, was 4-3 with a combined 2.70 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 53⅓ innings for the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays in 2020. He has a five-pitch repertoire with a 93 mph fastball mixed among sliders, splitters, sinkers and curveballs.

With the Mets, he will compete to join the back end of a starting rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman and David Peterson.