The Arizona Diamondbacks extended a qualifying offer to first baseman Christian Walker this past week and he has two weeks to decide on whether or not to accept it. Should he not, it is reported that there are at least six teams that will "aggressively pursue" the would-be free agent, although most major league clubs would be interested in his services. The Yankees and Mets appear to be the most likely landing spots if he doesn't return to Arizona, as the Yankees will likely need to replace Anthony Rizzo and the Mets will likely need to replace Pete Alonso. With Walker entering the 2025 season at age 34, he's not expected to cost as much as Alonso would, but can bring some good pop with his bat and just earned his third consecutive Gold Glove award.
Christian Walker Receives Qualifying Offer From D-Backs
The Arizona Diamondbacks extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to free-agent first baseman Christian Walker on Monday, according to sources. If Walker chooses to reject the offer and signs with another team on the open market, the Diamondbacks would receive draft-pick compensation. Not only is the 33-year-old veteran one of the better first-base bats in baseball, but he also just won a third straight National League Gold Glove at the position. The former fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles out of South Carolina, Walker hit .251/.335/.468 with an .803 OPS, 26 home runs, 84 RBI, two steals and 72 runs scored in 552 plate appearances over 130 games in his eighth year in the desert. It was a slight drop in production from the previous two years, but he did miss some time late in the year due to injury. He has 25-plus homers in each of the last three campaigns.
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. The 33-year-old is back in the mix after going down in late July due to a left oblique strain. Before going down, Walker was in a slump at the plate, but he has put together a fairly strong 2024 campaign as a whole. He's hitting .254/.338/.476 with 23 home runs and 71 RBI in 107 games this season. Walker will bat cleanup and cover first base against left-hander Kyle Harrison on Tuesday. Fantasy managers who have Walker rostered can safely get him back in their lineups.
Christian Walker Expected To Rejoin Team In San Francisco
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) did some work at Chase Field before Monday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and might not need another minor-league rehab game. It sounds as though Walker will come off the 10-day injured list and rejoin the team in San Francisco against the division-rival Giants during their upcoming series that starts on Tuesday. It remains to be seen how effective the 33-year-old first baseman will be in his return from a strained left oblique that has kept him out since late July, but the D-backs and fantasy managers could sure use his middle-of-the-order power bat after just dropping three out of four to the Dodgers. Walker will return to a .254/.338/.476 slash line with 23 home runs and 71 RBI for Arizona in 107 games in 2024.
Christian Walker Takes Live Batting Practice Tuesday
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) took live batting practice before Tuesday's series opener against the visiting New York Mets at Chase Field. Manager Torey Lovullo said Walker could play in simulated games at Salt River Fields in a controlled environment as early as this weekend. The 33-year-old Gold Glover injured his left oblique on July 29 against the Washington Nationals, with an MRI exam taken the next day showing a low-grade strain. Walker should be back to help Arizona and fantasy postseason rosters at some point in early September, but until then, Josh Bell should continue to serve as the club's everyday first baseman.
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) has begun hitting off a tee. It's not the most significant update for Walker, who has not yet made serious advancement in his hitting progression. There is no definitive timeline for Walker's return to the D-backs at the moment, as it remains fluid based on how his strained oblique improves on a daily basis. For the time being, fantasy managers can expect him back sometime in late August. The 33-year-old All-Star slugger went on the injured list while slashing .254/.338/.476 with 23 home runs, 20 doubles, and 71 RBI through 401 at-bats. While Walker recovers, veteran switch-hitter Josh Bell should continue to function as the everyday first baseman in the desert and occupy a spot in the heart of Arizona's batting order.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly placing first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) on the injured list. Walker left Monday's win over the Washington Nationals and was replaced in the lineup by Kevin Newman. He is hitting .254/.338/.476 with 23 homers, 71 RBI, and 62 runs scored in 107 games. The Diamondbacks added first baseman Josh Bell from the Miami Marlins for cash considerations on Tuesday as a replacement for Walker, whose return status is currently unknown. Fantasy managers will have to dig deep to find a source of power while Walker is sidelined.
Christian Walker Leaves Early With Oblique Tightness
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) was taken out of Monday's game early in the fourth inning against the visiting Washington Nationals with left-oblique tightness. Before being replaced at first base by infielder Kevin Newman, Walker struck out in his only at-bat. Oblique injuries typically require injured-list stints, so fantasy managers should begin preparing for the worst-case scenario for the 33-year-old power hitter. Walker is on pace to reach the 30-homer mark for the third straight season and is a must-start fantasy first baseman when healthy, so losing him for any amount of time would be a tough blow. He entered Monday's contest with a .255/.339/.478 slash line with an .817 OPS, 23 bombs and 71 RBI in a league-high 106 games played. If Walker is forced to the IL, Newman should benefit from more frequent playing time in Arizona.
If the Arizona Diamondbacks decide that they are sellers at this year's trade deadline after making it to the World Series last fall, they could trade first baseman Christian Walker for prospects and then try to sign him in free agency this winter. Several contending teams such as the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners would love to acquire Walker, even though he'd be a rental for the second half of the season and a potential playoff run. The Athletic's Jim Bowden guesses that they D-backs will stay in the National League wild-card race and add around the edges at the deadline without making a big move like trading Walker. The 33-year-old Walker is on pace for his third straight 30-homer season in the desert and is one of the more underrated fantasy first basemen out there.
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker swatted another pair of homers on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading the D-Backs to a 9-3 win. Walker went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs, and three RBI on top of the two homers. After his second homer of the game in the third inning, the Dodgers had clearly seen enough, walking him twice in his last three plate appearances. The veteran had clobbered the ball against LA this season, smashing five longballs in this three-game series and seven overall on the season. The next time these two teams meet expect Walker to receive a heavy dose of pitches outside the zone.
