Christian Walker’s surprise landing spot would stun all of baseball

Christian Walker is probably the most underrated and coveted free agent of the offseason. Any team missing Juan Soto will be looking for another bat (or several) to fill the void. Additionally, Walker is arguably the best first baseman available in a free agent pool that also includes Pete Alonso. His offense is impressive enough, but Walker is also a three-time Gold Glove winner.

His reliable bat, combined with truly elite defense at first base, should turn heads in the market. Walker is 33, so don’t expect too much long-term money, but he would be a smart short-term addition for a number of teams.

The expected suitors are a list of free agency stars you’ve heard of before – Mets, Yankees, Mariners, etc. – but there’s still a dark horse, according to Ken Rosenthal of The athlete.

What if the Norristown, Pennsylvania native went home and joined the Pittsburgh Pirates?

It’s a compelling thought, but unfortunately Rosenthal pours a bucket of cold water on his own proposal, pointing out the complications of wooing a top free agent to the Steel City.

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On the surface, Walker is exactly what the Pirates need – a steady bat in the middle of the lineup who can provide experienced leadership and a reliable defensive presence in the corner infield. Pittsburgh trained Bryan Reynolds at first base, but Reynolds should retain more value in left field. Placing Walker at first base will fill a positional gap and provide a much-needed boost to the Pirates’ anemic offense.

However, that is the problem. Walker is exactly what many teams need, and Rosenthal is a sobering reminder that the Pirates aren’t going to outsell most teams, let alone the Mets or Yankees.

“The problem for the Pirates is that Walker is an ideal fit for a number of clubs, including one or both New York teams that were unable to sign Juan Soto,” he writes. “And the idea of ​​the Pirates winning a matchup against the Mets or Yankees – or any club for that matter – is almost ridiculous.”

That last word – “ridiculous” – must sting if you’re a Pirates fan. People have been begging Bob Nutting to spend more for ages, but we all know how that ends. Pittsburgh is far from potentially winning the NL Central on offense. This rotation has a lot going for it with Paul Skenes and Jared Jones at the helm, but Pittsburgh’s offense ranked near the bottom of the NL last season and should perform similarly in 2025.

Walker isn’t exactly the most expensive free agent on the market at 33, but he’s coming off his third straight Gold Glove season in which he slashed .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI. All in all, it was a disappointing season for his Arizona Diamondbacks, but there’s no denying that Walker held up his end of the bargain.

Pittsburgh deserves a competitive team — and a front office that has the freedom to operate with a certain level of aggressiveness. However, that’s not the word we live in, so don’t count on Walker donning a Pirates jersey next season.