The New York Yankees have been connected to first baseman Christian Walker in recent months. At 33 years old, Walker isn’t the youngest option, but his consistent performance throughout his career makes him a strong candidate to bolster the Yankees’ lineup. As the team seeks a replacement for Anthony Rizzo, Walker could be a great fit. While there are other first baseman options available and talent in the farm system, Walker stands out due to his experience and reasonable contract expectations.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com noted that Walker is the ideal free agent for the Yankees, especially given their struggles with OPS from the first-base position last season.
“The Yankees’ .619 OPS from their first basemen in 2024 was the lowest in the AL, so figuring out an answer at the position will be on New York’s to-do list. Walker is the best all-around first baseman on the market, hitting 95 home runs since the start of 2022 while winning three straight Gold Glove Awards,” Feinsand wrote on November 25.
Walker Contract Prediction
The New York Yankees would need to carefully consider Christian Walker’s age when negotiating a potential contract. While he’s a solid fit for the team right now, his age means he’s not getting any younger, and signing him to a multi-year deal could backfire in the future.
A more ideal approach might be a two-year deal, which would give both sides some flexibility. If Walker performs well during that second season, the Yankees could then offer him another short-term contract, allowing them to reassess his value without committing long-term.
In the latest prediction from Zachary Roberts of Sportskeeda, the Yankees signed him to a three-year, $58 million deal.
“Christian Walker is the best first baseman available this year. He’s a Gold Glove-caliber fielder with a good bat. While the Yankees might have a lot of money tied up in other free agents, it’s hard to ignore how good of a fit he’d be,” Roberts wrote on November 25.
Yankees Considering Walker As a ‘Back-Up Plan
The New York Yankees’ primary focus isn’t currently on finding a first baseman. While upgrading the position is still a goal, their main priority is re-signing Juan Soto. If they have remaining funds after securing Soto, that’s when they should consider pursuing a player like Christian Walker to improve at first base.
However, if Soto leaves, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Yankees’ “back-up plan” would be to sign Walker and make additional moves to strengthen the team.
“If the New York Yankees don’t re-sign Juan Soto, one back-up plan floating around is signing free-agent first baseman Christian Walker, sign either Willy Adames or Alex Bregman to play third, shift Jazz Chisholm to second base, trade for Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger, and then use the extra money to sign Burnes, Fried or Snell,” Nightengale wrote on November 25.
Those moves would be impressive for the Yankees, but it’s tough to say it’d be better than retaining Soto, arguably the best hitter in Major League Baseball.
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