The New York Yankees are taking an assertive approach early in the offseason. While losing Juan Soto will dominate the winter headlines, their recent moves shouldn’t be overlooked.
Historically, the Yankees’ dominance in Major League Baseball was driven by their willingness to spend big. Although their payroll is consistently high, they may need to increase it even further for 2025 to assemble a championship-caliber roster.
One critical decision involves replacing Anthony Rizzo. While they could promote Ben Rice to the starting role, signing an experienced MLB player would significantly boost their World Series aspirations.
This is where Christian Walker becomes a potential option. At 33, Walker remains a productive player, hitting at least 26 home runs in each of the last three seasons. Additionally, he’s among the league’s elite defensive first basemen, having won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards. Walker is expected to command a lucrative contract, with Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report projecting a three-year, $75 million deal.
“The key question is how much value the soon-to-be 34-year-old Christian Walker can provide over the next three years. If he continues delivering 30+ home runs per season along with stellar defense at first base, the projected contracts could prove to be bargains.
“Historically, players like Paul Goldschmidt and José Abreu remained highly productive in their age-34 and age-35 seasons before experiencing sharp declines at 36. A motivated team may gamble on Walker following a similar trajectory—or at least outperforming options like Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell, or Goldschmidt in 2025,” Miller wrote on December 13. He further noted that the Yankees “are probably the best bet here,” but suggested Walker might be more valuable to a team willing to overpay for his services.
Yankees In the Mix for Walker
The New York Yankees have frequently been linked to Christian Walker in recent months. Replacing Anthony Rizzo with Walker is a logical move, especially after losing Juan Soto, as they could benefit from adding a power hitter to their lineup.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Yankees “renewed contract discussions” with Walker following Soto’s departure.
“With Juan Soto off their board, the Yankees on Sunday night renewed contract discussions with free agent first baseman Christian Walker, The Post has learned.
“Walker is just one of several players the Yankees are targeting in free agency and trade. They are actively pursuing both pitchers and hitters as they work to reallocate some of the funds originally intended for Soto, who chose to leave the Yankees for the Mets’ 15-year, $765 million deal,” Sherman wrote on December 10.
Can the Yankees Trust Walker?
Signing older players often carries risks, but Christian Walker isn’t quite at the age where concerns are pressing. A three-year deal might raise some questions by the final year, but the Yankees would likely aim to secure a World Series title before that becomes an issue.
With Walker’s proven track record, trusting a veteran of his caliber is a reasonable bet. If the Yankees finalize a deal for the late bloomer and complement it with additional moves, they could become a formidable contender next season.
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