Any first baseman showing improvement is likely to be targeted by trade rumors involving the Houston Astros. However, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Astros have their sights set on Christian Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In updates provided on the night of July 4, Heyman noted that the Astros are likely to pursue a starting pitcher and a hitter, potentially a first baseman if it offers a significant upgrade. He mentioned, “The Astros, now clearly a contender for the West title once again, are targeting Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker, who is set to be a free agent.”
Walker, who has earned the National League Gold Glove at first base for the past two years, is having an outstanding season at the plate. Through 87 games, he is batting .271 with 22 home runs and an .871 OPS. In contrast, the Astros’ first basemen have struggled, combining for a .204 average, 9 home runs, and a .598 OPS.
As the July 30 trade deadline approaches, the Astros have emerged as strong buyers despite a rough start to the 2024 season. They have won 12 of their last 14 games, bringing their record to three games above .500 and placing them just two games behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West, following a poor 10-19 record in April.
On the other hand, the Diamondbacks are also in the playoff hunt with a 43-44 record, just 2.5 games out of the National League’s third wild card spot after securing two out of three games against the Dodgers.
Arizona general manager Mike Hazen has expressed a desire to be a buyer at the trade deadline but has yet to fully commit to that plan based on the team’s performance, according to a July 1 report by MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert.
Christian Walker Might Be the Top Trade Target for the Astros
As long as the Astros are in buying mode and the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be sellers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will likely be a focal point in trade discussions. However, with Guerrero earning $19.9 million this year and another year of arbitration pending, he will be more expensive to retain. In contrast, Christian Walker is earning $10.9 million this season and will be a free agent at season’s end.
While Guerrero, at 25, represents a better long-term investment compared to the 33-year-old Walker, Walker might be a more practical short-term option for the Astros from August to October 2024. Guerrero boasts a higher batting average (.296), but Walker offers superior power numbers.
Both players would require significant trade packages, but Toronto might demand even more for Guerrero due to his youth, additional year of team control, and high profile.
Current First Base Situation in Houston
Since Jose Abreu’s departure in mid-June, Jon Singleton has been the primary first baseman for the Astros. His overall performance has been lackluster (.238 BA, 99 OPS+, -0.1 bWAR), though he has shown improvement recently.
In the past nine games since June 21, Singleton has batted .370 with a .970 OPS and a remarkable .563 batting average on balls in play. His hard contact rate has surged to 41.2%, up from his season average of 25.2%, with no soft contact recorded. His line drive rate has also increased.
Despite these promising recent stats, Singleton, 32, has had a fluctuating major league career since 2014 and his career numbers suggest he is a sub-.200 hitter overall. This recent hot streak is worth noting as the Astros evaluate their trade options over the coming weeks.
