The MLB is heading towards one of the most exciting seasons.
To add to that excitement and fun, top teams spend the best dollars.
Though even with a ton of ifs and buts, advanced AI-powered systems and everything, they couldn’t predict the exact future.
More than just a few NL East teams, the Philadelphia Phillies included, of course, have overpaid some players. And even if they fail to deliver with all that money, teams will let them go.
Here’s a list of three overpaid MLB NL East players that need to go, including one interesting name from the Phillies.
3. Starling Marte
The New York Mets are currently in a tough spot with Starling Marte. Signing him to a four-year, $78 million deal was seen as a gamble.
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However, unfortunately, it seems that gambling isn’t paying off right now. A player who was once known for his incredible speed, Marte now appears to have lost quite a bit of that edge.
Just a season ago, Marte was an All-Star and helped the Mets with some clutch hits. But this year, things have taken a turn for the worse. He’s currently batting .228 with a .339 on-base percentage and a .359 slugging percentage.
Anyone else getting shades of Starling Marte on this catch?#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/NLlmn8bo78
— Austin Oravec (@AustinOravec) June 1, 2025
That, too, with only three home runs and 14 RBIs to show for it. What’s even more surprising is that he’s primarily filling a designated hitter role and has only made three appearances in the outfield all season.
Even if he were thriving as a designated hitter, paying him over $20 million this season feels like a stretch. Especially since his performance stats indicate he’s just around league average with a 101 OPS+.
2. Raisel Iglesias
If you ask an Atlanta Braves fan to describe their bullpen situation, the answer would be straightforward for them: a total mess.
While much of the spotlight has been on the team’s lack of depth, it’s hard to ignore how much their best reliever coming into the year, Raisel Iglesias, has been struggling.
Remember when Iglesias was one of the most reliable closers in the league just last season? Well, this year has been a different story.
He currently holds a 5.91 ERA over 22 appearances and 21.1 innings, which is pretty concerning. What’s really alarming is that he’s already given up seven home runs.
Raisel Iglesias, Dirty 92mph Changeup…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/vLTPMZKUMk
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 20, 2025
To put that into perspective, he only allowed four in the last MLB season while pitching nearly three times as much. Sure, he has eight saves under his belt, but he’s also already blown three save opportunities. That’s just one shy of the total he had all of last season in 38 chances.
For most of his contract, Iglesias has been worth every penny of his hefty paycheck, but this season, he seems to have hit a wall without much warning.
Now, in the final year of his four-year, $58 million deal, it’s tough to see him struggle like this when just a year ago he was on top of his game. If the Braves are going to turn their season around, it’s clear they need Iglesias to get back on track.
1. Taijuan Walker
The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a bit of a pickle with a couple of key players this season. However, Trea Turner isn’t living up to the sky-high expectations that come with a $300 million contract.
And it’s evident with a sub-.800 OPS. Aaron Nola also struggles with the worst start of his career while making over $170 million and sitting on the Injured List. Some say they can bounce back in time.
However, Taijuan Walker presents an entirely different story, and it’s no surprise that some Phillies fans are eager to see him traded this MLB season.
Taijuan Walker’s 2024 & 2025 stats through May 30:
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) May 30, 2025
2024:
37.2 IP | 45 H | 24 ER | 8 HR | 15 BB | 30 K | 5.73 ERA
2025:
39.1 IP | 35 H | 13 ER | 3 HR | 16 BB | 33 K | 2.97 ERApic.twitter.com/FaJ8KUT1r5
While Walker’s performance has been better than his last two MLB seasons, there’s a crucial detail worth noting. When the team is at full strength, Walker becomes a reliever.
Though he has shown flashes of competence in his two relief appearances this season, the fact remains that the Phillies didn’t sign him to a four-year, $72 million deal to sit in the bullpen just three years into his contract.
Ideally, he was brought in as a reliable starter, but the current situation doesn’t justify that vision. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, and it leaves fans uncomfortable about the direction this season could take.
Should they make Walker’s bullpen responsibilities permanent? We don’t know. But he needs to up his game if the starting pitcher doesn’t want to be parted ways with.
Also Read: Former Yankees Legend Drops Bold Statement On Juan Soto’s 2025 Campaign
