“At least six teams…plan to aggressively pursue” free agent first baseman Christian Walker, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes, adding that the Yankees, Nationals, and Diamondbacks are some of the teams involved in the hunt. The Mets are mentioned as perhaps more of a peripheral suitor, as Nightengale speculates that the Mets could chase Walker if Pete Alonso isn’t re-signed.
Ranked 13th on MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, Walker is projected for a three-year, $60MM deal, with the shorter-term nature of that contract reflecting the fact that Walker will be 34 on Opening Day. Even as he gets deeper into his 30’s, however, Walker hasn’t shown much sign of slowing down. Over the last three seasons, the first baseman has hit .250/.332/.481 with 95 home runs over 1880 plate appearances with Arizona, which works out to a solid 120 wRC+. On top of that offense comes standout defense, as Walker has won the last three NL Gold Gloves and Fielding Bible awards in 2022-23 for his superb work at first base.
Because Walker will likely be getting a relatively short contract, any number of teams could conceivably be in the market for his services beyond just the usual big spenders. This could help the Diamondbacks (who have roughly $157.5MM already on the books for 2025) stay in the bidding, and one would imagine Arizona might have some extra advantage since Walker has stated that he has enjoyed his time with the D’Backs. Since Walker was issued a qualifying offer that he is sure to reject, a new team would have to give up draft picks and possibly international bonus pool money to sign him, whereas the Diamondbacks would face no penalty for re-signing their own free agent.
Retaining Walker would immediately patch a big hole in an Arizona lineup that could also be losing Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk in free agency. Pavin Smith hit well in 2024 and might be an interesting backup plan (in at least a platoon capacity) at first base if Walker left, though in the event that Walker returned, the D’Backs could then more comfortably view Smith a replacement for Pederson’s left-handed bat.
The Yankees also have a clear need at first base since Anthony Rizzo isn’t expected to be re-signed, and DJ LeMahieu has been in sharp decline over the last two seasons. Walker would bring more pop into New York’s lineup, and shore up the infield defense that suddenly became an issue during the World Series. (For what it’s worth, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco and Darragh McDonald both predicted Walker would sign with the Yankees within the top 50 list’s projections.)
Signing a QO-rejecting free agent comes at a particularly stiff price for the Yankees, as since they exceeded the luxury tax threshold, they’d have to give up two draft picks and $1MM in international bonus money. This isn’t necessarily a roadblock for New York if the club particularly likes what Walker can offer, and the Yankees might have an edge of their own on the qualifying offer front since they wouldn’t have to give up picks to re-sign Juan Soto. It has been speculated that the Yankees might turn to Alonso as the backup plan if Soto goes elsewhere, yet even in that scenario, New York might still prefer Walker due to the lower price tag and greater all-around value, as Alonso is only a passable defender.
Washington is perhaps the most interesting of the three known suitors, as unlike the D’Backs and Yankees, it has been a while since the Nats were in contention. The club’s rebuild process has brought some very interesting younger building blocks (James Wood, CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, MacKenzie Gore, Luis Garcia Jr., etc.) to the District, and with Wood and Crews now in the majors, there have been rumblings that the Nats are ready to turn the corner back towards contention. Signing Walker would have some echos of the Nationals’ signing of Jayson Werth during the 2010-11 offseason, as that big-ticket addition signaled that the Nats were going to start competing after years of rebuilding.
President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo has openly stated that the Nationals are looking for more pop in the middle of the lineup, and first base is the logical position for such an upgrade. Washington received a cumulative 0.3 bWAR from their first basemen in 2024, and the club has already started clearing space at the position by parting ways with Joey Gallo and Joey Meneses.
Since the Nationals weren’t luxury tax payors and don’t receive revenue sharing, they face the mid-range penalty for signing a qualified free agent — their second-highest 2025 draft pick and $500K in international pool money. The overall payroll impact for Walker can be easily absorbed since Washington has only Keibert Ruiz’s contract on the books, in addition to the two remaining years’ worth of salary still owed to Stephen Strasburg.
Alonso is younger but he’s going to want a long term contract. I think Walker will be the better overall value.
And walker gets more WAR then Alonso these days
I still think the Mets should resign Pete because of his playoff heroics but Christian should be priority 1 if they can’t resign pete
What a huge upgrade it would be for the Yankees who have suffered through lack of production from the corners.
Can Hal afford him though?
I’m gonna be reluctant to sign a 34 y.o. while giving up two draft picks and all that int’l pool cheddar. If he declines, they’ll be stuck with him, DJL, and Stanton in ’26. Cashman has already said he sees Ben Rice as a catcher first which isn’t exactly a vote of confidence in him. I don’t know what the solution is.
There’s another problem. The Os will bid up his price past the Yankees pain point. They can sign him for 2 years and trade Mountcastle.
If it was legal, Dodgers would chip in a few bucks to get Christian Walker to the AL. Walker torches the Dodgers, and few players do.
What about Goldschmidt, he has performed just as well over the last 2-4 years. I like Walker the best, but Goldy should be the second option.
Easily the number 1 target for the Nats, a perfect fit. Should be in play for both him and Bregman with how low the payroll is projected to be.
But are the Nats a good fit for Walker? He very well could be looking for his best chance to win a title.
Yes.. he lives in Arlington, VA and came up in the Orioles org. Nats have the cash and are a year away from competing again with a strong next two offseasons
Why wouldn’t the Orioles be a BETTER FIT. Mountcastle has lots of trade value. Simply sign Walker, realize he’s fine for two years, when Mountcastle is a FA anyway and get a QB pick to replace the draft pick they lose for signing Walker. Mountcastle is clearly worth more than a mere QB pick.
Atl,
You’re assuming it will only take a two-year deal to sign Walker. I think it will take three.
Also, your phone must be autocorrecting QO to QB. Mine did the same.
GBS
I actually think he will get offers of four years.
MLB Top 100,
That certainly would not surprise me. He’s a very good hitter and a terrific defender. I should have said *at least* 3 years.
He’s going to be looking for the most dollars, not the best chance to win a title.
Hank, how do you know that?
DM_Nats, He’s a perfect fit for the Nat’s, but he’s also a perfect fit for the Yanks (and I’d guess a few other teams as well). The bidding will get complicated with Soto, and Walker good fits for both. I’d love to see the Nat’s get aggressive in the FA market.
We don’t know if the nats will get their payroll up there again
Yes! Walker and Bregman to DC! And Max to mentor the young pitchers.
Max back in Detroit would give boos, back in DC he would get applause
Justin verlander could also be an option for DC (or of course Detroit)
He’ll re-sign with Arizona.
I don’t know. Diamondbacks could bring Goldschmidt back.
I hope he does sign with Arizona.
sufferforsnakes, Maybe. I see AZ not being able to compete financially with NY, especially if they don’t re-sign Soto. They might even lose a bidding war with the Nat’s. The D’backs don’t generally spend on FAs, and since they didn’t sign him to an extension previous to now, I’m skeptical he’ll stay in AZ.
The Diamondbacks spent a lot in free agency last year and had another good season. Nothing suggests money is going to hold them back from signing Walker.
“The Diamondbacks spent a lot in free agency last year…”
You can’t just say that without at least naming a few FAs that they spent so much money on. So who were the FAs, and how much did they spend? Jordan Montgomery was their one big FA signing (and we all know how well that worked out). Their next biggest was Joc Pederson at 1/$9.5M. That’s not exactly spending big.
“Nothing suggests money is going to hold them back…”
Are you new to baseball? AZ has generally been a team that doesn’t spend on FAs. When was the last time they spent big on a FA? Besides Montgomery and Pederson (if the Joc deal could even be characterized as big), who was it? They did spend $1.5M for Randall Grichuk with a $5M mutual option, but that isn’t exactly spending a lot.
Most of their team is either home grown, or acquired through trade. The terrible Montgomery signing is going to limit their spending this season. They’ll probably let Zac Gallen walk next season since they won’t be able to afford him.
Walker is not staying in AZ, If they were keeping him he’d have signed an extension before this. He’s a FA and they will not be able to compete financially with the teams in the bidding for him.
I think it’s in poor taste for a rival fan to discuss another teams payroll the way you are doing. You are a Giants fan. We will see what happens.
Aren’t you a Cards’ fan? In that case what you’ve written about their re-signing Walker would also be in poor taste.
They’re division rival, and I follow all the division rivals, except maybe the Rockies, closely. But more importantly I try to be as objective as I can about other teams as well as the Giants.
What does me being a Cardinals fan have to do with anything here?
You arent being objective you are being weird. The Diamondbacks spent a ton last offseason and they are probably gonna spend a lot this offseason.
And just so you know they signed Eduardo Rodriguez to a “giant” contract. Pederson got 12.5 million for his 1 year. They signed Gurriel. For some reason you don’t seem to remember that.
“What does me being a Cardinals fan have to do with anything here?”
Wow, you must have a short memory. You said that I, as a Giants’ fan, discussing the AZ payroll was in poor taste. So it’s okay for a Cards’ fan to discuss them, but not a Giants’ fan?
It’s what you were saying and the way you were saying it. It’s weird. Like I said the Diamondbacks spent a ton last offseason if you don’t remember look it up.
Pederson’s deal was for $9.5M for 1 year that included a $3M buyout for 2025, so the cost outlay was $12.5 for 2 years. Gurriel was an extension after being acquired through trade. I will admit I forgot about ERod though.
So I did some research and they were ranked 4th highest in spending by Sportrac in 2024 (although they included Gurriel in their calcs). So they did spend more than I thought they did last season,
But last season was a departure from their standard MO in spending. In 2023 their FA spending ranked 23rd, in 2022 it was 22nd, and in 2021 it was 26th.
They may have spent in 2024, but that doesn’t mean they will for 2025. And if the past few years are any indication, they won’t.
It’s 12.5 over 2 years but only for 1 year of service. What on earth are you arguing about?
They were rebuilding and now they aren’t rebuilding anymore.
The Diamondbacks have a good team. Better than the Giants.
“The Diamondbacks have a good team. Better than the Giants.”
And I’m the one that’s being weird? What’s that got to do with anything that we were debating? I can throw out non sequiturs as well. The Cubs are a better team than the Cards.
I’m not the only one that has the perception that AZ won’t spend much this season. Not one of the MLBTR writers predicted AZ to re-sign Walker. And, of the other 50 FAs, one writer predicted Pederson would be signed, and 2 others predicted Goldschmidt signing with them. And that’s it. They aren’t infallible of course, and in fact their predictions are often wrong. But there was a clear indications in their picks, or lack of, that AZ is not spending much on FAs this season, at least not enough to keep Walker.
“It’s 12.5 over 2 years but only for 1 year of service. What on earth are you arguing about?”
Not arguing anything, just stating facts. Every team budget is year to year. $9.5M was budgeted for 2024. Once the mutual option wasn’t picked up, $3M was budgeted for 2025. For a team that isn’t considered a big market team, that stuff is important. It also reduced what was calculated for the CBT. $12.5M spread over 2 years is significantly different than applied to just one.
If you’re want to argue, at least get the facts straight.
Matrac.
Erod.
Gurriel.
You are the one who didn’t mention the additional 3 million. You also admitted you forgot about Eduardo Rodriguez. You get your facts straight fella.
Their local TV revenue begs to differ.
suffer
I agree. I think the Dbacks have the inside track at signing him. Walker wanted to test Free Agency. Unfortunately, it’s a business and when the Dbacks issued a QO, it put a big damper on the top end of his potential offers. As a result, I think the Dbacks can match or beat any other team’s offer.
It’s the same issue the Os have with Santander. LOSING the QO pick is a big deal.
Goldschmidt is nobody’s answer at first base. He’s declined for two years and isn’t likely to turn it around at age 37.
Of course he declined for 2 years he was the MVP in 2022. He wasn’t getting any better lol.
Goldschmidt might bounce back. One thing for sure he still plays good defense.
Bounce back at 37? No team that wants to win is going to risk that. And he hasn’t just declined; he’s declined sharply. OPS+ from 177 to 120 to 98.
Good defense at 1B doesn’t make up for less-than-stellar production at the plate. How would you feel if the Cardinals brought him back?
Again when you are at the top of the mountain there is only one way to go and it isn’t up.
League average offense and good defense is a decent player. Walker is going to be 34 and will get a 3 or 4 year deal. Goldschmidt is probably looking at 1 year.
El Kabong, I totally agree. Signing a guy his age, with the sharp drop off in production, simply on the hope that he’ll bounce back, is a dumb move for a FO to make.
On top of that his defense has also declined. What once was elite D is now average to slightly below average. If any team signs him to any kind of ML deal, it’s the triumph of hope over logic.
Blackpink in the area,
“…when you are at the top of the mountain there is only one way to go…”
It depends on the mountain, Some have shallower slopes. but in Goldschmidt’s case that mountain appears to be steep.
You’re right, he is league average, but I’d rather try a younger league average guy with more upside. With a 1.1 fWAR and a 1.3 bWAR, he’s barely above replacement value now.
The point I was making was Kabong said he’s on a 2 year decline. That’s a stupid thing to say because he was the MVP in 2022.
What younger league average guy? Who?
Someone is going to sign Goldschmidt. And I bet it will be a playoff contender, either Houston, Arizona or the Yankees.
What’s a stupid thing to say is that because someone was MVP at age 34, that the noticeable decline, now entering age 37, is unimportant. Fangraphs’ study of the aging curve showed a shallow decline up to the later 30’s, when the drop in the curve increased significantly. Some guys just fall off a cliff, and it wouldn’t be the first time it happened to a guy like Goldschmidt.
I agree, someone is going to sign him. What’s in debate is how productive he’ll be for that team. I just hope it isn’t the Giants. And I say this as a someone that admired his game. He use to scare me when he was with AZ. He was a giant killer. But I don’t see him as being much of an asset to a team right now. Like you say, we’ll see.
Christian Walker is going to be 34 on opening day. Rizzo is old. Santana is how old? That’s what’s out there. After Alonso it’s take your pick which old guy works out. Who knows.
The one thing that Gold does bring to the table is that he, most likely, won’t cost any draft picks or bonus money.
Not at 1B it isn’t.
The first base carousel is going to be one of the more interesting stories of the hot stove. I like Walker, but he’ll be 34 next season and I wonder how much better he is than a healthy Anthony Rizzo. So from this NYY fan perspective I’m leary, but also get we need to sign someone. If he signs on a two year pact, cool.
He would be a big upgrade over a healthy Rizzo, I like the guy but he has lost his power and is no longer a great defender. I expect the Yankees to sign either Walker or Goldschmidt
Rizzo has dealt with alot of injuries, but healthy, him and Walker are very similar. He’s an upgrade simply because in theory he’ll be healthier (though Walker has dealt with some injury too, tho not as extensively) and two years younger.
Yeah I agree seeing where the different 1b end up will be interesting. Carlos Santana had a good 2024. Naylor might be traded. Some bounce back candidates out there and a lot of contenders who need 1b help.
Naylor is interesting, free agent next season, but Cleveland are contenders. He’d certainly fetch two or three prospects if they’re not planning on resigning him. They’d be gambling on whether they’re contending again, too. Then again, get some prospects now, and bring back Santana for the year wouldn’t be so bad overall either.
Salzilla, You’re concerned about Walker’s age when he’s slightly younger than Rizzo? A healthy Rizzo is an asset, but since 2021 he’s averaged just 116 games per season. Over that same time span Walker has averaged 141 games per season. Also, since 2021 Rizzo has averaged a 107 OPS+, where Walker has averaged a 116 OPS+. If I were a Yankee fan, which I’m not, I’d consider Walker an upgrade over Rizzo.
Again, he is, but Rizzo’s injuries began piling up at Walker’s age, and he was out a month this season, hence why I’m leery. But I do like him no doubt, and I don’t mean my comments to say I want Rizzo back in 2025. I mean trajectory wise, are we just going down the same path? A Naylor trade would be much more appealing to me.
It’s all about value. Walker will definitely cost more in dollars and years than guys like Rizzp and Goldschmidt. No telling who ends up being the best signing.
Salzilla, I don’t understand your comment about Rizzo’s injuries piling up at Walker’s age. Walker is less than a year younger that Rizzo, 232 days younger to be exact. Because they’re so close in age is why I looked at their last 3 seasons. Again, over that span Walker has been more productive, and significantly healthier.
To me it’s a no-brainer. The Yanks may not be able to land Walker, so Rizzo, or someone else is a reasonable option 2. But if they can sign Walker they’re better off than they’d be re-signing Rizzo.
Of course Walker is a safer bet than Rizzo that’s common sense. The question is how much will Walker cost.
Sadly Rizzo looks absolutely cooked after the concussion debacle. Nobody knows this better than the Yankees, he’s a great teammate and clubhouse leader so if he were even an aged version of himself he’d be back. It looks like a morneau situation where’s he’s just not going to be himself anymore.
He’ll get a contract this season, too many teams in need of 1b.
Oh again absolutely I’m not comparing Rizzo and Walker for 2025, and while they’re closer in age, I do see some reasons of concern in Walker. Obviously less so than Rizzo, but I’m saying if they sign Walker, depending on price as Blackpink said, I’m worried it could end being a similar situation that they’ve been in. Again, I don’t want Rizzo back (despite liking the guy), I’m just not 100% sold on Walker as the answer–though, I did tag NYY for him in the contest just based on circumstances.
Yanks are still paying DJ, and Cabrera can play first too, but they will still upgrade at first. Walker is the right fit for this team, he still is playing well, he won’t cost the Yanks an arm and a leg, and he might want to play for a contender..
Jerry Dipoto needs to sign him.
There’s going to be articles of the m’s “interested in” (not engaged or finalists) of all of the free agents to keep the fans like me on my toes
And then sign no one or sign a 5 million dollar first baseman and call it good
But hey to be honest we do got 4 top 100 infielders coming at some point on top of a decent outfield
Enough with these rumors about the Yankees and these older players. They need to get younger.
Who are you suggesting for 1B?
Right this is the hard part, walker on a 3 yr deal or goldy on a 1 or 2 with a team option for the 2nd would be fine. It still gives rice a reasonable avenue to becoming a legit major league bat between 1B and DH reps (when G takes his annual 40-50 games off) but protects the yanks in case of Rice not being more than a quad A slugger.
Jerry needs to add some quality position players with pop!
Throw him into the lump of ways to spend Soto’s 50 mil.
Undoubtedly, if Walker is a Yankee, the off-season was a failure akin to Harper 2.0
Come on Nats, get it done. Sign Walker.
Nats are doomed with the other teams in their division!
5% jump in strikeouts. lower stats across the board while maintaining the same wRC+ at his age are the first signs of a bat slowing down and a player cheating on his swing to compensate.
DJL all over again.
Pass.
Moving away from the thin Arizona air might be a second sign. Two draft picks and loss of international money is nothing thou
His “results-oriented” stats were generally lower, but most of his “process-oriented” stats were superior to last season.
The separation between his 2023 wOBA and xwOBA suggests that he was lucky to have the numbers he did on the season, while those same stats for 2024 suggest that he was unlucky to end up where he did.
Plus, Chase is one of the harder ballparks to hit HRs consistently in (if you buy into park factors)
Not saying that his bat isn’t slowing down at that age (and I’m no doctor), but I’m pretty sure losing an extended period of time due to an oblique strain would look like a loss in bat speed in the short-term (at least to a degree)
I’d be happy to have him back in AZ, but understand him wanting to test FA for the first time.
Dodgers should sign em just so they don’t have to face em. He’s had their# n they still haven’t solved em. Flatout owns Chavez Ravine.
I only come here to watch BP and Matrac yell at each other 20 or 30 times during their (ahem) conversations. Not.
Not the Yanks. He’d have to shave his beard and look like a bowl of porridge with two raisins in it
I always wanted Charlie Blackmon to be traded to the Yankees just so we could see what was under all that hair.
This feels like the kind of mostly uninspiring signing my Nats would make, though a guy at 34 and without a ring doesn’t seem likely to come to the capital while he’s got contenders courting him.
Still, if the Nats are going to buy their way back into the mix for 2025, they need more than one free agent and somebody’s gotta be first.
I like the price better than Alonso’s.
Walker will be the first option for any team, but it ultimately depends on where he wants to play. Sounds like the O’s might be the best option, but will they over pay to get him.
-Well into his 30’s with diminishing physical tools
-Falls right in line with the 3-true outcome philosophy (HR, BB or K)
-Will be overpaid to the point he will never be able to live up to the contract given
-Slow, unathletic
-Right handed power (ignoring YS right field)
-Will cost draft picks
This is a wet dream for Cashman I’m surprised it’s not a done deal yet.
He is someone I could see the Tigers targeting to upgrade from Tork. A three year deal would be good timing since Bruceno and/or Liranzo should be ready to come up and replace him by then. Gets in vase, good defense, power. What’s not to like.
If that happens, the question then would be what happens with Tork. I have seen Arizona, Pittsburgh and Washington mentioned as potential fits in some of the articles. Someone will bet on being able to help him figure things out.
“IF” it happens, which is still a big if with Detroit’s lack of spending the last couple years.
I’m a pretty big fan of Walker and had him on my roto teams the last couple of years. But imo, I give him only one more year of being good.
A righty 1B at YS for three years feels like a mistake. I have him headed to Houston.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Walker leaves AZ that there will be a reunion with Goldy
Walker would go great for us in DC. Gold Glove defense, an abundance of power and good enough of an all-around player to Mike Rizzo for him to potentially sign Walker on a 3-year deal.