{"id":89572,"date":"2024-11-13T20:07:10","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T01:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=89572"},"modified":"2024-11-13T20:07:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T01:07:10","slug":"diamondbacks-christian-walker-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/13\/diamondbacks-christian-walker-free-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Teams Aggressively Pursuing Diamondbacks First Baseman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arizona Diamondbacks star Christian Walker<\/a> is among the top free agents available this winter and insiders say at least six teams plan to aggressively pursue him. Coming out of general manager meetings last week, <\/span>Walker<\/span> emerged as one of the top free agent hitters not named <\/span>Pete Alonso<\/a><\/span> or <\/span>Juan Soto<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The three-time reigning Gold Glove winner has long been one of the best defensive first basemen in baseball. Entering his age-34 season, Walker has averaged 32 home runs over the past three seasons and is a cheaper alternative to the 29-year-old Alonso. Arizona extended a <\/span>$21.05 million qualifying offer<\/span><\/a> to Walker, who earned $10.9 million in his final year of arbitration in 2024. The longtime Diamondbacks infielder <\/span>could accept the one-year offer<\/span><\/a>, but it seems unlikely given the expected demand for him in free agency. According to <\/span>USA Today\u2019s Bob Nightengale<\/span><\/a>, there are at least six teams who plan to aggressively pursue Walker this offseason. <\/span>Kiley McDaniel of ESPN<\/span><\/a> predicts that he will sign a three-year deal worth $57 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diamondbacks First Baseman Christian Walker Among the Top Free Agents for 2025<\/h2>\n

Nightengale reported that the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and the Diamondbacks are among the teams who plan to aggressively pursue Walker. He also noted that the New York Mets could throw their hat into the ring if they <\/span>cannot retain Alonso<\/span><\/a>. Both the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers are searching for a new first baseman and have also expressed interest in signing Walker.<\/span><\/p>\n

New York Yankees<\/h3>\n

For a Yankees team looking to improve its defense, Walker would be an ideal fit. New York <\/span>declined their 2025 club option<\/span><\/a> for first baseman <\/span>Anthony Rizzo<\/a><\/span> who has averaged just 80 games a season during his four-year tenure in the Bronx. Manager Aaron Boone<\/a> turned to infield prospect Ben Rice<\/a> after Rizzo’s forearm fracture<\/a>, but he struggled more than he succeeded. <\/span> Signing both Soto and Alonso is unlikely for the Yankees, so pursuing Walker would give them much-needed power and elite defense for half the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Christian Walker has been a PREMIER first baseman in Arizona over the past few years, and had a STELLAR season on both sides of the ball in 2024\u26a1\ufe0f<\/p>\n

26 HR | 119 wRC+ | 3.0 fWAR | 7 DRS<\/p>\n

Should the Yankees bring him in this offseason to solve their issues at first?\ud83e\udd14#Yankees<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/LHWe8N07TR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) November 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n