The New York Yankees and New York Mets are both likely to target power-hitting first baseman in free agency.
With Anthony Rizzo and Pete Alonso hitting the open market, both teams have a vacancy at first base. While both clubs have shown interest in signing Alonso, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests that the two rivals could end up in a bidding war for Walker.
“There are at least six teams who plan to aggressively pursue Walker, with everyone involved from the New York Yankees to the Diamondbacks to the Washington Nationals, believing he’ll come at less than half the price of Alonso. He could ultimately be involved in a bidding war between the Yankees and Mets,” Nightengale wrote.
Walker would address a need for both the Yankees and Mets by stepping in as their starting first baseman.
In 2023 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walker posted a .251 batting average, 26 home runs, and 84 RBIs. His career best came in 2022, when he hit 36 home runs, and in 2023, he recorded 103 RBIs.
What is Walker Expected to Get in Free Agency?
Walker, 33, is expected to secure a multi-year contract in free agency.
According to MLBTradeRumors’ annual free agent prediction, Walker is projected to sign a three-year, $60 million deal. The article notes that his age is the primary factor limiting him to a shorter contract. Walker, who will turn 34 during spring training, might have earned a longer deal if he were younger, given his significantly better defense compared to other free agent first basemen like Pete Alonso. Three-year contracts for players of Walker’s age are uncommon, but similar players have signed for comparable amounts in the past.
For context, the article mentions Jose Abreu’s ill-fated $58.5 million deal that started at age 36, as well as Carlos Santana and Edwin Encarnacion’s three-year contracts worth $60 million. Encarnacion started his deal at age 34, while Santana was 32. Given this precedent, Walker is expected to land a three-year deal in the ballpark of $20 million annually.
Alternatively, The Athletic predicts that Walker could sign a two-year, $44 million deal. In either case, it appears likely that Walker will receive a contract with an average annual value (AAV) around $20 million.
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