D-backs listed as team in the mix to sign first baseman Christian Walker
The D-backs first baseman is one of the hottest names in the free agent market, with his former team listed as a suitor.
Of the seven Diamondbacks that reached free agency this season, no player may be more important than Christian Walker. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports the D-backs first baseman is the hottest name amongst the group of free agent hitters after Juan Soto, the biggest prize on the market. Nightengale says up to six teams could pursue the D-backs first basemen, believing him to be a much cheaper alternative to Pete Alonso, naming Arizona, the New York Yankees, and Washington Nationals.
Walker was one of 13 free agents who received the $21 million qualifying offer and is likely to decline it to secure a payday after his Age 33 season. FanGraphs has him listed at 18th while MLB Trade Rumors at 13th on their respective Top 50 Free Agents lists. MLBTR projects Walker to get a three-year, $60 million, with the four writers split between the Yankees (2), Astros, and Tigers.
The Norristown, PA native and South Carolina great struggled to find consistent opportunities early in his career before establishing himself as one of the most underrated first basemen in the game. While never an All-Star, he put up those type of numbers over the past three seasons and became a fixture in the cleanup spot. Over that stretch, he put up a .250/.332/.481 slash line with 95 home runs, 281 RBI, and 11.4 WAR over 447 games.
With Walker likely declining the qualifying offer, the D-backs will want to either re-sign him or hope he breaks the bank elsewhere. If he signs for more than $50 million, which would suggest at least a three-year deal, Arizona would be awarded a draft pick right after the first round. Spotrac has four teams (Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Braves) at $40 million over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold. All four teams made the playoffs, so they all will be moved down 10 spots in the draft. That puts the D-backs at the No. 27 pick for losing Walker.
Should Arizona lose their first baseman in free agency, there aren’t very many internal solutions available. Josh Bell, who filled in for Walker at first base while he dealt with an oblique injury, is an option the team is familiar with. Bell slashed .279/.361/.436 (121 OPS+) with five home runs in 41 games, but his production waned in August and he became a bench bat down the stretch. While a much cheaper option, the dropoff in offense (and defense) will be very noticeable.
Internal candidates that could step up at first base include Pavin Smith as the left-handed half of the platoon. Smith is also a candidate for taking over the left-hand DH role held by Joc Pederson, another free agent. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has primarily played left field in Arizona, is another candidate. The 31-year-old has played the position sparingly but was once a middle infielder to begin his career. That would free up playing time in the outfield for Jake McCarthy to play every day in left field, while the organization picks between Alek Thomas and Jorge Barrosa in center.
The D-backs’ farm system does not have a player who’s likely to step into the role until the 2026 season at the earliest. Gino Groover is the most obvious long-term candidate, with a late 2025 ETA. The organization is developing him as a third baseman, but I see him moving across the diamond when all is said and done.
Jordan Montgomery opts into 2025 with Arizona
Nightengale also added that D-backs GM Mike Hazen spoke to Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery exercised his $22.5 million player option for the 2025 season and is viewed as a bounceback candidate after a rough 2024 campaign. Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick viewed the signing, one he pushed himself, as one of his worst mistakes.
That puts the organization in a rotation crunch, having six guys who warrant an opportunity to start in 2025 based on past track records. Zac Gallen, if not traded, will be their Opening Day starter for the third straight season. Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez are coming off shoulder injuries that put them on the shelf for months. Ryne Nelson was a pleasant surprise, dominating for two months and bumping Montgomery out of the rotation before missing a couple of weeks in September with a sore shoulder. Brandon Pfaadt was the only guy who answered the bell all season, although he often got his own bell rung with a lot of starts that unraveled quickly.
As we’ve come to learn in 2024, rotation depth tends to dwindle rather quickly. Looking beyond the six players, their rotation depth isn’t particularly strong. Their farm system lacks any clear-cut starting pitcher types who can handle the typical workload. Tommy Henry and Slade Cecconi have yet to put things together in the big leagues and are bullpen candidates. Prospects Cristian Mena, Yu-Min Lin, and Dylan Ray are obvious call-up candidates with the rotation, but only Mena would be an option before the All-Star break.
Barring any moves, this is how I project their rotation depth chart at the start of 2025.
RHP Zac Gallen
RHP Merrill Kelly
RHP Jordan Montgomery
RHP Eduardo Rodriguez
RHP Brandon Pfaadt
RHP Ryne Nelson
LHP Blake Walston
LHP Tommy Henry
RHP Cristian Mena
With the obvious roster crunch, teams are checking on the availability of the D-backs starters. They face a dilemma with Gallen, their only movable arm between him, Kelly, Rodriguez, and Montgomery. Trade him to maximize return like the Brewers did with Corbin Burnes or go to war with those six starters with anticipation that they could lose one in spring. A hypothetical Gallen trade analysis will be a different discussion for a different day.
Michael McDermott has been writing about the Arizona Diamondbacks, and their minor league system, for 9 seasons for AZ Snake Pit, Diamondbacks on SI, and Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X at x.com/michaelmcdmlb