PHOENIX — Christian Walker, who began his Diamondbacks tenure as a fringe major leaguer and backup to franchise keystone Paul Goldschmidt after getting waived by three teams, now enters free agency as one of the most accomplished players on the open market.
Walker spent the last eight years in Arizona where he grew into a Gold Glover and regular 30-home run threat. He hit 95 homers over the last three seasons, third among MLB first basemen over that span even while missing five weeks with an oblique strain this summer.
The Diamondbacks expected to make the postseason this fall and fell short in the final week of the campaign, unceremoniously kicking off their 2025 preparations early. General manager Mike Hazen met with Walker, whom he claimed in his first year running the team, and Arizona’s other upcoming free agents before they departed for the winter.
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“The amount of pride, and I’ll speak for (manager Torey Lovullo), we have in what (Walker) has accomplished and made himself into as a player is something that I’m extremely proud of from an organization standpoint,” Hazen said.
“He’s the best defensive first baseman in baseball by a long shot. He’s earned all that, that wasn’t the case six or seven years ago. He’s put all the time and effort in doing that. As a power hitter, that speaks for itself and he’s done that year over year over year. So to watch that process play itself out, and to do it in a year when you have a lot of pressure on you personally, to go out and produce when you’re going to walk into free agency, good for him. He deserves everything that’s coming his way.”
What else beyond Christian Walker must the Diamondbacks address in free agency
The D-backs will need to address the lineup this winter, as designated hitters Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk have mutual options after putting together terrific campaigns. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez has a $15 million club option while role players Josh Bell and Kevin Newman will also become free agents.
The Diamondbacks led the majors in runs, finished second in slugging and were fifth in home runs this season with Walker in the cleanup spot. Walker worked an .803 OPS with 26 home runs. His .813 OPS since 2022 ranks eighth among major league first basemen in that span.
Defensively, Walker is on his way to a third Gold Glove after leading NL first basemen in fielding percentage and outs above average.
We have no explanation for this play 😮 #Game162 pic.twitter.com/TZKZL9VT7h
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2024
And he has been a clubhouse leader for years, a trusted veteran voice who could be seen working on his craft before each game at Chase Field. The Orioles, Braves and Reds all cut him in the spring of 2017 before the D-backs gave him a shot, and he finally became a major league regular in 2019 in the aftermath of the Goldschmidt trade.
Lovullo said Walker’s story is one of perseverance.
“The way he came out the other side and had the type of years that he’s had on both sides of the ball is remarkable,” Lovullo said. “Now you throw in the fact that he comes into my office and sits down and has a very calm and very directed conversation about how he’s feeling and what he’s trying to get to and what he needs from me. I mean, I love Christian Walker because of the person.”
“C-Walk has been one of my guys on this team since I’ve been here,” starter Merrill Kelly said. “We’re not only close in here, but we’re also close off the field. I’m hoping this isn’t the last game that I’ll play with him. … I think this team is better with him in this clubhouse and at first base, so I hope that we can work out some sort of reunion.”
Walker will turn 34 years old in March, so this is his opportunity to take the biggest bite of the apple possible.
Walker has been thinking about this opportunity, trying to “channel every moment” with the club he’s ingrained himself so deeply in.
“A lot of my best friends are in this clubhouse,” Walker said. “A lot of unknowns still, uncertainty. There’s obviously a good chance I land here, but still unknown. This is all I know as far as my big league experience. … I’m looking forward to the opportunity for my family, for myself and I think it’ll be good regardless.”
Bee-lieve it! Christian Walker’s second homer of the game is a #walkoff for the @Dbacks! pic.twitter.com/tml265wKK0
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2024
On the Diamondbacks’ all-time leaderboards, Walker is ninth in games played (819), seventh in total bases (1,325), fourth in home runs (146), seventh in RBIs (442) and eighth in runs scored (426).
Walker joins Pete Alonso, Goldschmidt, Bell and Carlos Santana as the top free agent first basemen of this class. Behind Walker on the depth chart, the D-backs have Pavin Smith.
Spotrac projected Walker’s market value at three years, $66.9 million. Looking at recent free agent first baseman contracts over the past three offseasons for comparisons, Jose Abreu signed a three-year, $58.5 million deal with Houston at 36 years old and Anthony Rizzo signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Yankees at 34 years old.
There is also a question of whether to use the qualifying offer, the mean salary of MLB’s 125 highest-paid athletes, that ensures a club receives draft compensation for a free agent departure.
Joc Pederson loved time with Diamondbacks
Pederson set a career high with a .903 OPS this season, as he and Grichuk platooned for one of baseball’s highest-producing designated hitter situations.
Pederson and the club have a mutual option for $14 million with a $3 million buyout.
Asked whether he’d want to return, Pederson said, “Yeah. I mean, I loved my time here. It was a great experience, great clubhouse, great coaches, great front office, and yeah, it was a really good experience.”
Free agents cannot sign and teams cannot make trades until after the World Series, so there is time for players and front offices to take a step back before the offseason gets roaring.