Excited Walker looking forward to pain-free 2017

PHOENIX — It was the night before Thanksgiving and Taijuan Walker was hanging out with friends and family when his agent called to tell him he had just been traded from the Mariners to the D-backs as part of a five-player deal.

“At first I didn’t believe him,” Walker said. “Then [Mariners general manager Jerry] Dipoto called and we talked. At first it was a shock, coming up with the Mariners, getting drafted by the Mariners, the goal is to try to be with one team. But I’m super excited to be with the Diamondbacks. They have such a young core of players, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

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And the D-backs are excited to have a pitcher they believe is on the verge of fulfilling the potential that so many have seen in him since he was first drafted in the first round in 2010.

For his part, Walker is looking forward to pitching without pain in 2017, something he was not able to do last year when he went 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA in 25 starts.

In October, Walker underwent surgery …

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