The Houston Astros currently have vacancies at both corner infield positions. Third base is available with Alex Bregman set to become a free agent, while first base has been an ongoing issue since the beginning of 2024. Could Christian Walker, the first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks, be a potential solution for general manager Dana Brown?
According to FanGraphs, Houston’s first basemen have collectively posted a -1.4 WAR this season, ranking them among the worst in the league. Only the Colorado Rockies (-1.7) and Cincinnati Reds (-1.8) have been less productive in that regard.
The Astros tried to make a big splash before the trade deadline to solve their first base problem. Walker was on their radar, and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman said in July that Houston considered the 33-year-old “a dream target.”
“The Astros badly need to upgrade at first base, and Walker isn’t just an ideal option with regard to his bat and glove,” Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer said on Monday. “With money seemingly at a premium right now, he’s a much better fit for the club’s payroll situation than (Pete) Alonso.”
Rymer forecasts that Christian Walker will sign with Houston for a three-year, $60 million contract. He would be an ideal addition to the Astros’ infield. Walker has earned a strong defensive reputation, highlighted by winning three consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2022 to 2024. At the plate, he’s been highly productive, posting a .250/.332/.481 slash line since 2022, with averages of 32 home runs, 29 doubles, 94 RBIs, and 81 runs per season. If he’s at the top of Houston’s offseason wish list, however, the Astros could face competition from other teams in need of a first baseman, such as the New York Yankees, who recently declined Anthony Rizzo’s 2025 option.
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