Rating Christian Walker’s Prime 10 Touchdown Spots in MLB Free Company

Over the previous three seasons, Christian Walker was possibly essentially the most invaluable member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, spearheading their maturation from a 110-loss catastrophe in 2021 to a World Collection participant in 2023 and a fair higher regular-season group in 2024.

Nonetheless, the primary baseman is now a free agent and one of many 10 or so most coveted gamers (definitely prime 10 amongst place gamers) on this 12 months’s market.

An indirect damage suffered in late July sidelined Walker for greater than a month and stored him from placing collectively a 3rd consecutive 30-homer marketing campaign, however there is no denying he has a fantastic bat and possibly a fair higher glove.

If he have been six years youthful, he would most likely be proper up there with Corbin Burnes as essentially the most coveted free agent not named Juan Soto. Whilst an elder statesman who will flip 34 simply earlier than subsequent season begins, although, there are many groups champing on the bit to provide him a multi-year deal.

How a lot does he determine to go for, although? And which groups are most motivated to make it occur?

We’ll dig into his projected market worth earlier than rating the highest 10 touchdown spots for Walker.

A complicating consider making an attempt to gauge what Walker’s impending contract shall be is the excess of obtainable first basemen this 12 months.

Pete Alonso tops the checklist, however there’s additionally Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo, Carlos Santana and Josh Bell as gamers who may very well be the first possibility for a contender—to not point out Ty France, Rowdy Tellez, Joey Gallo and José Abreu on the checklist of fellows who was once regulars at first base and is perhaps price a flyer as a backup.

Whereas it isn’t precisely the 2022-23 offseason when all of Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson have been free-agent shortstops, the first-base market is sort of crowded this winter.

Walker is perhaps the most suitable choice of the bunch, although.

Now, do not misread that as a prediction that he’ll signal for greater than Alonso. He will not. The Polar Bear (turning 30 in per week) is 4 years youthful than Walker and is without doubt one of the greatest present sluggers not named Aaron Decide.

Alonso’s contract figures to be at the very least twice so long as Walker’s, and it may very well be greater than triple the general price ticket.

Over the previous three years, although, Walker has a powerful 95 residence runs (good for Eleventh-most within the majors) to Alonso’s 120, a triple-slash (.250/.332/.481) very near Alonso’s (.243/.333/.493) and vastly superior protection accountable for three consecutive Gold Gloves.

Walker ought to fetch at the very least $20 million yearly, most likely on a three-year deal.

10. Detroit Tigers

Arguably, the Tigers do want so as to add at the very least one affect bat this winter. Nonetheless, except they’re planning on shifting Spencer Torkelson—who has completely performed first base at each degree since late within the 2021 marketing campaign—it does not make an entire lot of sense for them to focus on Walker. He is perhaps as excessive as they’re prepared to go for a bat with their finances, although, so who is aware of?

9. Chicago Cubs

There has lengthy been discuss of the Cubs wanting Pete Alonso, however maybe a unique first baseman would suffice. It is seemingly they might simply keep on with Michael Busch at first base except they will land the Polar Bear. They may very well be feeling out Walker’s market, although, particularly as they search to commerce away Cody Bellinger.

8. San Francisco Giants

Walker has hit simply two residence runs in 184 profession plate appearances at Oracle Park. Nevertheless it’s not like LaMonte Wade Jr.—who’s about to enter his remaining season earlier than free company—was any higher final season for the Giants, with two residence runs in 189 plate appearances at residence. And in contrast to Torkelson, at the very least Wade can play elsewhere, primarily serving as a nook outfielder till two years in the past.

7. Washington Nationals

If the Nationals view themselves as able to spend and contend in 2025, first base may be very a lot a place of want, because it has been for a number of years. However spending to improve the rotation and going extra of a Josh Bell or Carlos Santana route at first, arguably, makes far more sense for them.

6. New York Mets

In the event that they re-sign Pete Alonso, they might have little interest in Walker. If they do not re-sign Alonso, Walker to the Mets all of a sudden makes a ton of sense. So, No. 6 on the checklist? Yeah? Alonso staying with the Mets nonetheless feels just like the almost certainly consequence, so something within the prime 5 could be a bit aggressive in the mean time.

Present 1B State of affairs: Pavin Smith / Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Arizona bought an unscheduled glimpse into what life would possibly appear to be with out Walker…and it wasn’t unhealthy in any respect.

The Diamondbacks have been 4 video games above .500 when he suffered his indirect damage in late July, and so they have been 16 video games above .500 by the point he returned in early September—earlier than taking part in .500 baseball the remainder of the way in which with him again within the fold.

That is not to say they would not be blissful to have Walker again, however it might have been the push they wanted to be OK with shifting on.

One main variable in that call is the Jordan Montgomery state of affairs.

They’ve already made it clear they do not need to deliver again what’s presently their highest-salaried participant for 2025, however how a lot of that $22.5 million will they should retain even when they’re capable of commerce him? That will nicely dictate whether or not they even trouble making an attempt to re-sign Walker.

One other main variable is the younger tandem of infielders Blaze Alexander and Jordan Lawlar.

The previous made the 2024 Opening Day roster, however he wasn’t spectacular throughout his time within the lineup. The latter handled a torn ligament in his thumb and a hamstring damage, which resulted in him barely taking part in at any degree in 2024. However the No. 6 total choose within the 2021 draft was one of many highest-ranked prospects in all of baseball heading into final season.

If each are prepared for actual contributions in 2025, possibly they slide Eugenio Suárez throughout the diamond to first base and let Lawlar and Alexander break up the third-base duties? In the event that they’re good with that plan, possibly they do not trouble signing any first baseman and as a substitute dedicate any and all offseason spending to upgrading the bullpen.

Present 1B State of affairs: Billy Prepare dinner / Jared Triolo

As issues stand, Pittsburgh has possibly the bleakest first base state of affairs of any group within the majors. Billy Prepare dinner is perhaps Plan A, however he has 49 profession plate appearances within the majors and spent extra time each within the outfield and at second base than he did at first base within the minors.

However what else is new for the Pirates? Because the starting of 2020, they’ve ranked dead-last in first base manufacturing, per FanGraphs.

If they are going to spend actual cash on a multi-year free agent for just about the primary time in franchise historical past, although, does not that make first base the proper, low-hanging-fruit spot to take action?

Upgrading from what was a Rowdy Tellez / Connor Joe platoon to a primary baseman of Walker’s caliber may very well be large in Pittsburgh’s quest to have Paul Skenes pitch in October.

The Pirates did not have anybody—first base or in any other case—publish an .800 OPS in 2024. Did not occur in 2023, both, except you need to depend Drew Maggi’s .833 mark in six plate appearances. However Walker has been north of .800 in three consecutive seasons and would instantly turn into fairly probably their most indispensable place participant.

Will they do it, although?

Pittsburgh has been rather more prepared to spend money on its homegrown expertise lately, extending Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and Mitch Keller on long-term offers. It has additionally been cautiously wading into the free-agent pool, investing greater than $30 million in one-year offers in every of the previous two years, together with giving Aroldis Chapman an eight-figure wage final winter.

Upping the ante to go get Pennsylvania native Walker is the subsequent logical step upfront of a 2025 season during which the NL Central appears vast open for the taking.

Present 1B State of affairs: Jon Singleton / Mauricio Dubón

Because the previous saying goes, if at first you do not succeed, throw $60 million at a primary baseman in his mid-30s for a second time.

The Houston Astros are nonetheless paying for his or her failed José Abreu experiment, releasing him this previous June however nonetheless owing him $19.5 million for the upcoming season.

That is removed from Houston’s solely sunk value, both. In addition they owe Zack Greinke a deferred $12.5 million in every of the subsequent two seasons, $11.5 million to Rafael Montero who they DFA’d in July, $10.4 million to Cristian Javier who had Tommy John surgical procedure in June and may not pitch in any respect in 2025, and $17.7 million to Lance McCullers Jr. who hasn’t pitched because the 2022 postseason.

With 2025 marking the ultimate 12 months earlier than each Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez hit free company, although, there is no use crying over greater than $70 million price of spilled milk. They simply must dig deeper into their pockets and embrace what shall be a club-record payroll for what could be the ultimate 12 months of what has been a protracted championship window.

That does not imply limitless spending, in fact. If the Astros handle to re-sign Alex Bregman at near $30 million per 12 months, bringing in Walker at a $20 million wage might be not doable. That may push what was a $180 million Opening Day payroll two years in the past as much as darn close to $300 million.

In the event that they’re unable to re-sign Bregman, although, rolling with Walker at first base and a few mixture of Shay Whitcomb, Zach Dezenzo and Mauricio Dubón on the sizzling nook would not be a foul back-up plan.

At any charge, Houston merely should tackle at the very least one in every of its nook infield spots, and Walker may very well be the reply.

Present 1B State of affairs: Luke Raley / Tyler Locklear

Luke Raley was one of many few issues about Seattle’s offense that wasn’t a disappointment in 2024. After the M’s shipped José Caballero to Tampa Bay to herald Raley final offseason, he had 22 residence runs and 11 stolen bases, rating fourth on the group in bWAR.

Raley predominantly performs nook outfield, although, solely taking up extra of a primary base position (together with Justin Turner) after Seattle kicked Ty France to the curb with no obvious transition plan in place.

Making Raley, 30, the first first baseman is technically an possibility, however they do want so as to add offense someplace. They’re presently on observe to have 4 of Mitch Haniger, Mitch Garver, Victor Robles, Dylan Moore and Ryan Bliss of their Opening Day lineup.

Including offense with a fantastic glove connected to it could be a giant plus for a Seattle group that already has elite pitching.

As all the time in the case of a top-25 free agent, cash is the massive query for Seattle. The Mariners have been talked about typically as a candidate for the likes of Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Willy Adames this offseason, however often with a skeptical “in the event that they’re truly severe about spending” tone.

Walker on a three-year deal may very well be the proper match, although, as three years from now’s A) when each Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh are slated to hit free company, B) across the time Seattle’s crop of highly touted position-player prospects must be prepared for on a regular basis MLB work and C) one 12 months away from when it should make its post-2028 determination on whether or not to train its membership possibility on Julio Rodríguez for 2030-34.

A $20 million-plus AAV for Walker would push Seattle’s projected Opening Day payroll greater than it has ever been earlier than—and with out addressing huge query marks at each second and third base—but it surely merely should do one thing about its offensive shortcomings.

Present 1B State of affairs: Ben Rice / DJ LeMahieu

The catalyst for doing Walker’s touchdown spots now was Bob Nightengale’s rumor mill article for USA Immediately from earlier this week, during which he wrote: “If the New York Yankees do not re-sign Juan Soto, one back-up plan floating round is signing free-agent first baseman Christian Walker, signal both Willy Adames or Alex Bregman to play third, shift Jazz Chisholm to second base, commerce for Cubs heart fielder Cody Bellinger, after which use the additional cash to signal Burnes, Fried or Snell.”

To start with, how good it have to be to have “further” cash for a top-10 free agent mendacity round after theoretically signing Walker and Adames/Bregman and buying Bellinger’s $27.5 million wage, however two ideas on that basic proposed plan:

1. NYY needing a 1B is nothing new.

Lengthy earlier than the Yankees formally declined Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million membership possibility for 2025, your entire world anticipated them to be in on Walker, as first base was a catastrophe space for the AL champs in 2024. Nightengale even had them listed first amongst groups prone to “aggressively pursue” Walker in his GM meetings wrap-up article in early November.

2. Why not each?

Calling Walker a part of the Yankees’ backup plan if they do not get Soto appears a little bit…backwards?

It makes far more sense for Pete Alonso to be the Yankees’ backup plan in the event that they find yourself having more cash to spend than anticipated, with signing each Soto and Walker being the first purpose.

At any charge, if Walker is supposedly Plan B, what’s Plan A?

Truly embracing the Rice/LeMahieu platoon? Re-signing Rizzo for lower than he would have value to maintain on his earlier contract? Hoping Joey Gallo fares higher in a second stint on the roster?

Apart from hanging on to Soto, upgrading at first base is, arguably, the highest precedence on New York’s offseason agenda. And there is a small pattern dimension suggesting Yankee Stadium may very well be a implausible residence over the subsequent three years for Walker, who has a profession 1.127 OPS in six video games performed there.