The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to lose first baseman Christian Walker in free agency, as FanSided's Robert Murray reported earlier on Friday that Walker was in advanced talks with the Houston Astros regarding a contract.
And it materialized quickly. The two sides agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract as the Astros look to address the offense lost in the Kyle Tucker trade and the likely Alex Bregman departure.
Walker, 33, has been one of the most underrated first basemen in baseball since the start of the 2022 season. Over that stretch, he's put up a .250/.332/.481 line with 95 home runs and 281 RBI while winning three consecutive Gold Gloves at first base.
BREAKING: Free-agent first baseman Christian Walker and the Houston Astros are in advanced talks on a contract, according to sources familiar with the situation.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 20, 2024
Walker was originally claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in 2017, as he bounced around four separate clubs that spring. While he failed to make the roster, the Diamondbacks were able to stash him in Triple-A and he ended up winning the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player Award. It would take two more seasons before he earned the everyday job at first base, as he was blocked by franchise icon and future Hall of Famer Paul Goldschmidt.
While he'll be remembered more for his 30-homer power from the cleanup spot, it was his constant dedication to improving his craft that will stand out the most. Despite being the standard defensively, he was constantly working, taking ground balls every day. It was that strong work ethic that allowed him to go from an afterthought to a key player on a pennant-winning squad.
Diamondbacks News: Christian Walker leaves for Astros in free agency
Replacing Walker will be difficult for the Diamondbacks. He was a constant presence in both the lineup, the field, and the clubhouse for Arizona, setting the standard for the rest of the team to follow.
The organization has few internal options to consider at first base. One would be to deploy a platoon at the position, with Pavin Smith serving as the left-handed half and using free agency to address the right-handed half. Smith enjoyed a mini-power breakout in September and could be looking at a bigger role. Another option would be re-signing Josh Bell, who is a solid but unspectacular bat that gives away a lot of value defensively.
It will be a couple of years before the farm system can produce a starting-caliber first baseman to replace Walker in the long term. Gino Groover is the most logical candidate, as he's set to begin the 2025 season in Double-A Amarillo, but in the best-case scenario, he's a September call-up and could be their Opening Day starter in 2026.
Since Walker rejected his $21.05 million qualifying offer, Arizona will get a compensatory pick after the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. With the Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers set to drop 10 picks after going over the $277 million payroll threshold to incur that penalty, that gives them the No. 28 pick. The Diamondbacks will have both the Nos. 18 and 28 pick in the 2025 draft, giving them another chance to add impact talent to a farm system that desperately needs it.