There hasn’t been “too much” talk between Christian Walker’s representatives and the Diamondbacks about a contract extension, though the first baseman told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he “loves” playing for the team. However, Walker is also interested in the idea of testing free agency next winter after the humble beginnings of his career, as he bounced around to multiple teams and didn’t become a real big league regular until 2019, his third season in Arizona. “To look back, it’s a sense of accomplishment. Like, wow, we’ve created this leverage; it’s a thing now,” Walker said. “We have the ball in our court. It hasn’t always felt that way….I think it’s motivating to keep wanting to head in that direction.”
Walker will be 34 on Opening Day 2025, so hitting the market at something of an advanced age is likely to limit his chances at an overly lengthy contract. He is a first base-only player, yet with the benefit of being baseball’s best defensive first baseman, as the winner of the last two Fielding Bible Awards and Gold Gloves at the position. To go along with his superb glove, Walker has also hit .253/.332/.463 with 115 homers over 2619 plate appearances since the start of the 2019 season, translating to a 112 wRC+. (Over the last two seasons in particular, Walker has 69 homers and a 112 wRC+.)
It will be interesting to see if the D’Backs could work out a way to re-sign Walker, as the team is projected for a club record $143MM payroll heading into 2024, but a decent chunk of money is coming off the books next offseason. This could provide an opening for a reunion between the D’Backs and the underrated first baseman, if an extension isn’t reached before Walker even gets to free agency.
More from around the NL West…
- Keaton Winn’s sore right elbow has “calmed down” after a bout of nerve irritation, the Giants rookie told reporters (including Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle). Winn didn’t need a cortisone shot and has been cleared to start throwing again, so he believes he’ll have plenty of time to ramp up in time for Opening Day. The 26-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut in 2023, and is one of several young starters the Giants are counting on through at least the early part of the season before Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray are slated to return from the injured list.
- Newly-signed Padres reliever Yuki Matsui is day-to-day with back spasms, manager Mike Shildt told reporters from 97.3 The Fan (X link) and other media outlets. The problem doesn’t appear to be too serious, but Shildt said the team is just taking a precautionary measure this early in camp. After an outstanding career in Japan, Matsui made the jump to the majors this winter, signing with the Padres to an interestingly structured five-year deal that will pay the left-hander $28MM in guaranteed money.
- Top Rockies prospect Adael Amador had an injury-shortened 2023 season and has only played 10 games at the Double-A level, so it might still be a while before we see Amador in the Show. However, his development this season will not only hasten his own potential path to the majors, but if Amador plays well, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post feels it might make the Rox more open to trading Brendan Rodgers to clear room at second base. It wasn’t long ago that Rodgers was also seen as something of a building block in Colorado, though Rodgers played in only 46 games last season due to shoulder surgery and didn’t hit well after returning to action. Since Rodgers is only under team control through the 2025 season, there has been some sense that Amador is already viewed as the long-term replacement, and the Rockies have explored dealing Rodgers in the past. Of course, this all might hinge on how well Rodgers plays in the early part of the 2024 campaign and whether or not he can rebuild his stock either as a trade chip or as part of Colorado’s future plans.
Never an acquisition in Padres news
Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic in Padres land.
‘Let’s swap positions with Kim and Bogaerts’ ‘That’s worth a move in itself’
Oh look the Pads are making moves, haha. Don’t believe the hype.
Any success this team has will be due to shrewd maneuvering on the part of Preller, Shildt and the hustle from the players themselves.
Padres post Peter Seidler ownership doesn’t deserve an ounce of credit for any success this team has this year.
Almost have this feeling like the Padres post Peter Seidler ownership group will make Preller the fall guy.
They will fire him, blame him for the roster construction and use it as an excuse to jettison players.
A precursor to a massive fire sale by the post Peter Seidler ownership group is on its way.
Very concerned about that starting rotation…particularly Darvish & Musgrove and are they really 100% healthy?
AJ is not the ‘Fall Guy’, he is the person responsible for putting together a roster that never had a chance. Shildty will be the fall guy, because when AJ gets the axe, Shildty will too.
AJ will get the axe and ownership will torpedo the team.
The post Peter Seidler ownership group’s main concern is profit.
Cut payroll and increase ticket prices.
“AJ will get the axe..main concern is profit”…You do realize baseball is a FOR PROFIT business?…And you do realize America is a capitalist country, right?…If so, at least get some new original material because you pretty much post the same anti business view on every post. Anyone can just bash owners 24/7, but you almost never add any insight or real knowledge to the conversation.
Off with his head!
MLB – Tow “realizes” nothing. Give up on him like the rest of us that tried to save him. I
Marsee 2 for 3 today. Merrill was 2 for 2. The answers to your bewilderment lie right under your nose
Im glad they installed extra security bars on roof of the Western Metal Supply Co Building. That should spare Merrill from Tow splatter in LF
Absolutely and Sugat with HR and 2b even.
These guys need the ABs as part of development / determination of their readiness for OD roster / starting spots.
Tow’s lamebrained bring in scrubs mentality is beyond saving.
I’m still in on Cooper / maybe Votto but I hardly call them “scrubs” and I hope the prospects hit well enough that even they aren’t needed.
1 week from today I’ll be there live!
I’d rather San Diego not have an MLB franchise and Petco be torn down than one that simply exists.
Cooper signed with the Cubs…on a minor league deal.
Sell the team if you cant afford it.
Move the Padres.
Tear down Petco turn the area into much needed low income housing.
If you have a team that simply exists and has no shot at a WS, I’d rather not have a team in San Diego.
Peter Seidler cared about the homeless issue in San Diego and Petco is housed in an area that could accommodate valuable low income housing.
Tow – another alternative and it’s a lot cheaper and easier on the rest of us – you could leave and switch your allegiance to any of the few teams that has a higher payroll than SD.
All of your problems solved.
I’m tired of your bellyaching.
This isn’t a community.
The Padres have a plethora of needs.
Cambridge Analytica.
Would you say they have a plethora of penatas.?
This isn’t a dialogue.
That sounds exactly what the Giants current ownership plan is lol. At least you guys have a few really outstanding players who are fun to watch. Enjoy what you got, it’s more than some other teams have at least
Who really cares about the WS? Enjoy some games, eat some hot dogs. Relax and have fun watch a game or two.
Rather not have a team in SD then one aspiring to mediocrity.
Rather not spend $500 on a meaningless loss.
Don’t find that entertaining.
Winning meaningful games is apart of the experience.
Do you even know what a plethora is?
– El Guapo
Tow – “this isn’t a dialogue”
You’re right, it’s a monologue that not a single one of us wants to hear. If you feel like talking to yourself, do us all a favor and do so in front of your bathroom mirror. As least the person looking back is interested in what you have to say.
Otherwise you’re wasting valuable battery life that could be spent on more productive things, like literally anything else.
I’ve been saying about a fire sale all along. I’m so tickled someone else agrees
Misery loves company
Preller has done more than enough to dig his own grave. Making him the fall guy won’t require any kind of framing at all – AJ has already done that for them. If SD misses the playoffs or gets a first round bounce, he’ll be fired……and he should be!
Starting on doubt the Rockies will be good in the next 15 years.
Whatever GM turns them around will never have to worry about job security ever again.
They’re hopelessly lost in the woods…..and ownership is good with that! I’ve never seen a front office that literally embraces mediocrity the way they do.
It’s a story of baseball, greed, lust and…unbridled enthusiasm. That’s what led to Dicky Monfort’s downfall.
Walker deserves to get paid. I hope it’s by the D-Backs but will respect him no matter which team he ends up with.
How does a 4/$72million extension sound? He reaches 10 years service time and the Dbacks get a tiny discount. Also Walker avoids any free agency issues related to age or lack of position versatility.
I think that would be perfect for both sides.
18 mill a year for him? I’d say he needs at least 5-6 mill more a year to skip free agency.
“18 mil a year for him…..at least 5-6 mill more”..Must be some pretty good stuff you’re smoking. If some team offers this guy 4 years at 18M= 72M, he’d better take it. Matt Olson makes CONSIDERABLY less(per yr)than you’re suggesting for Walker and Olson’s production is considerably higher. I can’t see anyone giving Christian Walker 4×24M.
@jorts but he’s getting 4 years for a dude that will be 34 when he hits free agency, as a 1b/DH only option. He would never get that in free agency.
You realize matt Olson signed way below what he could’ve made in free agency right? Apples aren’t oranges
Doesn’t it feel like rodgers has just gotten worse in the mlb. The window to move him on a worthwhile return is long gone. I wish I could say positive things about Colorado so I’ll try. sure there’s Doyle’s golden glove. Amador in the ranks and Tovar in the fold, but to me that’s really where the positive ends on this roster. I’d wish these guys luck because they need it, but I really think this team needs to drastically reinvent the wheel to overcome the negative aspects of playing in that ball park.
Nolan Jones is looking like a star in the making. Otherwise I agree that there is not much positive, although I don’t think the ballpark is the main problem.
No-Jo has a lot of swing and miss in his game. I don’t think he’ll be a star without significant improvements there.
He looks like a very talented but streaky guy to me ATP.
Walker should really consider the first offer Arizona gives him. GFL to you if you think you’re gonna get anything else. The greatest player in Phillies history only got 2 and 34 from the Brewers. Again I’ll say it again he Brewers. Mr Walker take the first offer the Dbacks offer you and smile.
I’d love to have some of whatever you’re smoking, because your feet are floating about 10,000 feet above the ground right now. Walker has quietly been one of the best 1B in the league the last two years.
The age hurts him, but he also doesn’t have as much mileage on him given the later career breakout as well. He will absolutely have plenty of suitors this winter if he decides to test free agency. You’re trying to compare him to a player that didn’t play any baseball in all of 2023 and is coming off major knee surgery at 30 years old. Hoskins also doesn’t play great defense at 1st, so his contract is bat driven.
I’m not saying Walker is gonna get some 5-year, nine digit contract, but to suggest he should “take anything he gets offered” is laughably naive. You’re basically banking on him regressing terribly, when nothing in his numbers or under the hood metrics have suggested people should be concerned.
Brendan Rodgers is not getting any more on the trade market than the guy who takes BP with the guy who pitched for the Reds a few years ago won a cy young, signed with the dodgers and played in the Japanese Penal League.
Walker as Phillies 1B in 2025 would be fun.
Pretty sure the Phillies have a 1B signed through 2031…
Walk is a winning player way greater than his WAR, and his reasonable contract is a big part of that. I wouldn’t mind a one year extension. He’s a big part of whether they make another WS run this year.
Give him a deal through age 36 and let him walk after that.
Trade Winn. Now.
What about a walker + Jake McCarthy trade for Paul Goldschmidt? Let Goldy retire a diamondback, and get rid of the Log jam in the outfield.