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BIG props for noting (correctly, IMO), that the prospects are paying for the limited downside.
Being the self-appointed voice of age-arc doom, this is precisely the kind of situation where I am willing to gamble. SPs don't play by normal age rules. Having 4 rest days between starts mitigates the "primary" age related factor (IMO) --- the inability of the body to completely repair the damage from professional level effort on a nightly basis.
If you're talking "average" talent - yeah average pitching talent will tend to fall apart in their late 30s ... but Lee is not average. HoF level pitching talent routinely is highly productive up to age 40. Beyond 40 is where the annual risk starts accellerating.
As for the "not THIS spec" mentality ... count me as a dissenter.
Have we learned nothing from Ackley and Montero (and Smoak to some degree)? No matter how high the perceived upside ALL prospects are gambles.
I get why we would be excited about Walker. His AGE (more than his performance) makes him "feel" more like Felix. But, in the end, he is no more a guaranteed MLB pitcher, (much less Hall of Fame pitcher) than Maurer or Beavan.
Remember, Fister didn't start off as Fister ... he started off as just another organization arm and BECAME Fister.
Pineda started off gang-busters, had one great season, then ended up fat, happy and on the DL.
If the organization ONLY had Walker as a top arm prospect, the math gets different. But, if the club gives up Walker, its still got Hultzen and Paxton and Erasmo and Maurer and a history of developing arms.
I'd be FAR more concerned about giving up any hitting talent at this point, because the minors hitting depth has already been plumbed and Z is going to need some time to replenish, (and I definitely don't want to destroy the offense which is just "barely" good enough at the moment).