The New York Yankees lost Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets. While Soto’s departure is disappointing, it might prove to be a blessing in disguise as the Yankees now have the resources to sign multiple free agents, potentially creating a more well-rounded team.
The Yankees have a clear need at first base and are reportedly focusing on Christian Walker over Pete Alonso, who is also available this offseason. However, they face competition for Walker’s services, with several teams, including the Washington Nationals, expressing interest, according to insider Robert Murray on X.
Although Walker, who will turn 34 at the start of the 2025 season, is nearly four years older than Alonso, some view him as the top position player available in free agency now that Soto is off the market. His age actually works to his advantage, as he is expected to be more affordable on a shorter deal compared to Alonso, while still offering significant power and superior defense at a corner infield spot.
Walker spent the past eight seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite injuries limiting him to just 130 games in 2024, he still hit 26 home runs and drove in 84 RBIs, posting 2.6 WAR.
Over the last three seasons with the Diamondbacks, Walker has hit 36, 33, and 26 home runs, compared to Alonso’s 40, 46, and 34 homers. However, Walker provides a high-caliber defensive presence, winning a Gold Glove in each of those years.
Will the Yankees lose a bidding war for first baseman Christian Walker?
Initially, it was expected that the competition for Walker would be between the Yankees and Mets. However, several other teams have now shown interest, with the Detroit Tigers recently emerging as contenders and the Nationals surprisingly entering the mix as well.
The Nationals have missed the playoffs for the past five years, following their 2019 World Series victory. They’ve posted back-to-back 71-91 records and haven’t had a winning season since their championship year. However, with the first overall pick in the 2025 draft, Washington might be looking to add a veteran presence to their locker room, making Walker an unexpected but potentially solid addition.
After losing out on Soto, the Yankees secured starting pitcher Max Fried with an impressive eight-year, $218 million contract. They are also aggressively pursuing third baseman Alex Bregman.
If the Yankees manage to strengthen their starting rotation while adding both Bregman and Walker to their corner infield spots, the team would be in a strong position, despite the loss of their second-best player.
However, it remains uncertain whether the Yankees will be able to sign Walker. With several teams interested, a bidding war could drive up his value, which is part of the reason he’s such an appealing target for New York.
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