Few teams got less from the first base position than the Astros in 2024. To wit, the team’s options at 1B combined to slash just .226/.291/.360 with an 87 wRC+, with the husk of Jose Abreu standing as the most glaring example of the unit’s underwhelming performance.
It was clearly a hole that the team needed to address this offseason and, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, it appears they have. Houston has reportedly agreed to terms with Christian Walker on a three-year, $60 million deal.
Walker has been one of baseball’s most underrated assets for a few seasons now, yet his age was certainly a complicating factor in getting a long-term deal done in free agency. Still, while his future production remains a question mark, you can’t argue with the track record. Since the beginning of 2022, Walker’s hit 95 home runs to go along with a .231 ISO and a 120 wRC+. He’s also won three consecutive Gold Glove awards, and that defensive acumen has translated into a 10.8 fWAR — which trails only Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson and Paul Goldschmidt within that same span of time.
The ripple effect for the rest of the Astros’ roster is obvious. With Christian Walker now at first and Isaac Paredes manning third, it would appear that Alex Bregman’s time in Houston has come to an end.
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