Report: Christian Walker to sign with Astros after 8-year run with Diamondbacks
Dec 20, 2024, 10:39 AM | Updated: 11:21 am
Free agent first baseman Christian Walker has agreed to join the Houston Astros, ending his eight-year run with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to multiple reports.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports it is a three-year deal at $60 million.
Insider Robert Murray first reported the sides were in advanced talks on Friday.
The Diamondbacks extended the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer to Walker at the start off the offseason, which he declined. Arizona will receive a compensation draft pick in 2025 after the first round and before the Competitive Balance Round A.
Houston lost a second- and fifth-round pick each, as well as $1 million from its international bonus pool.
Walker will be 34 years old at the start of next season, as he entered this winter with the opportunity of a lifetime to cash in before hitting his late 30s.
The Diamondbacks took a flier on Walker during spring training 2017, as three teams with established first basemen had waived him. Arizona still had franchise face Paul Goldschmidt manning the position, so Walker’s first two years in the desert involved stints at Triple-A Reno and backing up Goldschmidt.
When the D-backs traded Goldschmidt after the 2018 campaign, Walker ran with the opportunity, hitting 29 home runs with an .825 OPS in 152 games as the starter. He kept working at his game, developing his defense to a level in which he became the premier defensive first baseman in MLB.
Walker has won three straight Gold Glove awards, and his 58 outs above average since 2019 ranks fourth in MLB among all positions.
His offense has remained consistent with an OPS over .800 in each of the past three years, a stretch in which he homered 95 times.
Walker has climbed the franchise leaderboards with 819 games played (ninth), 146 home runs (fourth), 157 doubles (eighth), 442 RBIs (seventh), 314 walks (seventh) and 15.3 bWAR (sixth among position players).
The Diamondbacks will have to pivot after losing not only a power bat and elite fielder but a trusted voice in the clubhouse whom team leaders have called a model Diamondback.
“You talk about a guy that’s high character, just kind of understands what each day represents and means to his career, he does not waste a day,” manager Torey Lovullo told MLB Network at the winter meetings. “He’s a true success story. We picked him up off of waivers … and he found his way.”
Who could play 1B for Diamondbacks after Christian Walker leaves for Astros?
Pavin Smith is the lone first baseman remaining on the active roster, and he produced an .896 OPS last year in a limited role. He played 60 games and rarely faced left-handed pitching. He is seen as a platoon option at this point.
There are also options on the free agent market, including a pair of former Diamondbacks.
Paul Goldschmidt, Josh Bell, Carlos Santana, Anthony Rizzo and Justin Turner are all out there. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported the D-backs sought a deal trading starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery to the Chicago Cubs for first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger, which was turned down.
Christian Walker’s fit with Astros
Walker reunites with third base coach Tony Perezchica, who departed Arizona for Houston earlier this offseason. Perezchica works closely with infielders, helping Walker with his defense throughout the years.
The Astros have gone through some transition this offseason, trading away star outfielder Kyle Tucker while third baseman Alex Bregman is on the open market.
Houston acquired Isaac Paredes from the Cubs for Tucker, and he will likely replace Bregman at third base.
Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez headline the batting order Walker will slot into. The Astros have reached the postseason in each of the last eight years.
