The Washington Nationals are looking to dive into the free agent pool, and it could come with an upgrade at first base. According to MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided, the Washington Nationals are one of the clubs included in free agent Christian Walker rumors. Walker is one of the biggest names on the free agent market and would be a solid fit in Washington’s infield. The Nationals are one of three rumored teams engaged in Walker, along with the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.
There are multiple teams, including the Washington Nationals, engaged with free-agent first baseman Christian Walker, sources say. Walker, 33, is coming off a season in which he hit .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI with the Diamondbacks.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 11, 2024
Nationals Interested in Acquiring Walker
Walker, 33, is coming off a strong season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2024, the first baseman slashed .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI. Walker had been with the Diamondbacks from 2017 to 2024. He is also a three-time Gold Glove Award winner with a 124 OPS+ over the past three seasons. Walker began his big league career with the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 but lasted only two seasons with the team.
The Nationals have needed a big offseason signing, especially after not giving Juan Soto an offer to return to D.C. However, Washington has not made any big free-agent signings this offseason. The only moves the Nationals have made include non-tendering Tanner Rainey and Kyle Finnegan and declining Joey Gallo’s 2025 option. Though he is 33 years old, he could still have some fuel left in the tank, and the Nationals are seemingly among the Walker rumors. If general manager Mike Rizzo makes a quality offer to the veteran first baseman, he could be a huge addition to the club.
As of right now, the Nationals infield consists of young players like stars CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr. The team also has Andres Chaparro, Jose Tena, and Trey Lipscomb, who all made debuts with Washington in 2024. First baseman Juan Yepez was called up to the majors midway through last season and put up solid numbers. The Nationals have needed a quality first baseman since Ryan Zimmerman retired. Luckily, the Walker rumors fit the mold in the Nation’s Capital and would provide a much-needed veteran presence.
Yankees and Astros are Also Involved in Walker Rumors
However, the Yankees have also shown strong interest in Walker. Just recently, the ballclub lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets as he signed the biggest contract in sports history. As a result, the Yankees have shifted their focus to first baseman, needing to replace Anthony Rizzo. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Walker was reported to be a “bigger priority” to the Yankees than Pete Alonso.
Is there a potential fit between 1B Christian Walker and the Yankees?@jonmorosi goes into detail as the Yankees continue to weigh their free agent options.#MLBNHotStove presented by @CohnReznick pic.twitter.com/rPJJ1AprI1
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 10, 2024
“Walker is a shorter-term contract,” said Morosi. “He’s a Gold Glove-caliber defender. Yes, he’s older than Pete Alonso, but he’s really athletic. And he’s been on a World Series team.”
The Astros have also shown significant interest in the 33-year-old Walker. With veteran Alex Bregman on the market, Houston has also looked to first base and explored options. The Astros were able to get new deals done with Jose Altuve and Christian Javier, but not with Bregman or Kyle Tucker. As of right now, it’s looking very likely that Bregman and Tucker end up on other teams.
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