The Seattle Mariners are expected to be active players in the free-agent market this offseason. One position they may look to upgrade is first base. According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, the Mariners are a team to watch in the pursuit of free-agent first baseman Christian Walker.
“I think for [Walker] on a three- or maybe even a four-year deal, with the defensive value that he brings and the power, I think Walker and the Mariners, that is one of the pairings that I’m watching very carefully potentially in the days ahead,” Morosi said during Wednesday’s edition of Hot Stove.
“[Christian] Walker and the Mariners – that is one of the pairings that I am watching very carefully here potentially in the days ahead [of the Winter Meetings].”
– @jonmorosi on #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/WSJ7zwQmQR
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 4, 2024
Walker, 33, is coming off a season in which he slugged 26 home runs in 130 games and recorded an .800-plus OPS for the third consecutive season. He also won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award, demonstrating his exceptional defensive skills.
Mariners Considered a Team to Watch for Christian Walker
While Walker may not command the same level contract as Pete Alonso, the other top first baseman on the market. Alonso will generate significant interest from teams looking for help at the position. Alonso has more home runs than Walker over the past three seasons (120 to 95). Although Walker’s defensive prowess sets him apart. According to outs above average, Walker has been vastly superior on defense over the same span, with a rating of 36 compared to Alonso’s minus-16.
The New York Yankees are one team that has already been linked to Walker. However, Morosi’s comments suggest the Mariners could be a dark horse candidate to sign him. The Yankees in particular are looking to replace Anthony Rizzo, who became a free agent at thend of the season.
The Mariners got good production out of their first basemen this season. They posted a 115 wRC+ that tied for eighth-best in the majors. However, with Justin Turner hitting free agency and Luke Raley being an outfielder by trade, the team may look to add a more established first baseman like Walker to their lineup.
In 2024, Walker batted .251/.335/.468 with 84 RBI over 130 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite missing the entire month of August with a left oblique strain. He also led National League first baseman with 13 outs above average. MLB Trade Rumors has predicted that Walker will land a three-year, $60 million deal in free agency.
Main Photo: © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
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