At least six teams are expected to aggressively pursue free agent first baseman Christian Walker, with the Yankees, Nationals, and Diamondbacks among the main contenders, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. The Mets could also join the fray if they fail to re-sign Pete Alonso.
Ranked 13th on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents, Walker is projected to sign a three-year, $60 million contract, which reflects his age—he’ll be 34 on Opening Day. Despite entering his mid-30s, Walker has shown little sign of slowing down, posting a .250/.332/.481 slash line with 95 home runs over the past three seasons. He also brings elite defense, having won three consecutive NL Gold Gloves and Fielding Bible awards from 2021 to 2023.
Because Walker is likely to sign a relatively short-term deal, a variety of teams, not just big spenders, could be in the market for his services. This could allow the Diamondbacks—who have a projected 2025 payroll of $157.5 million—to remain in the mix, especially since Walker has expressed a positive experience with the team. The D’Backs would have an advantage in re-signing him, as they wouldn’t face penalties for retaining a player who declined a qualifying offer. Any new team signing Walker would forfeit draft picks and possibly international bonus pool money.
If the Diamondbacks keep Walker, it would address a significant gap in their lineup, especially with other potential free-agent departures like Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk. Pavin Smith, who had a strong 2024 season, could serve as a backup option at first base if Walker leaves, though re-signing Walker would allow Arizona to view Smith as a possible replacement for Pederson.
The Yankees are also in need of a first baseman, as they don’t expect to re-sign Anthony Rizzo, and DJ LeMahieu has struggled in recent seasons. Walker would provide power and solidify the infield defense, an area of concern during the World Series. While signing a player who rejected a qualifying offer would require the Yankees to forfeit two draft picks and $1 million in international bonus pool money, this may not be a significant deterrent if they value Walker’s all-around production. Additionally, the Yankees could target Walker as a more affordable option compared to Pete Alonso, who is a less reliable defender.
Washington represents an intriguing potential destination for Walker. After several years of rebuilding, the Nationals are beginning to transition toward contention, with exciting young talent like James Wood, CJ Abrams, and Dylan Crews now in the majors. Signing Walker would signal their intention to compete, much like the team’s acquisition of Jayson Werth back in 2010. The Nationals are looking for power in the middle of their lineup, and first base is an obvious area for improvement. Washington received just 0.3 bWAR from their first basemen in 2024 and has already cleared room at the position by moving on from Joey Gallo and Joey Meneses.
The Nationals are not subject to the luxury tax and don’t receive revenue sharing, so the penalty for signing a qualifying free agent would be a mid-range cost: their second-highest 2025 draft pick and $500,000 in international bonus pool money. With little payroll committed beyond 2024, Washington could easily absorb the cost of signing Walker.
