The Brewers’ pursuit of Walker may hinge on the future of Rhys Hoskins, who has two years remaining on his current deal. After a disappointing 2024 season where Hoskins hit just .214 over 449 at-bats, his future in Milwaukee is in question. While it is possible he seeks a fresh start, based on his underwhelming numbers, it does seem unlikely Hoskins will receive a strong offer if he tests the market.
Nightengale also noted the comparison between Walker and another top free-agent first baseman, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets. Alonso is expected to land a contract north of $150 million, despite a 2024 season that saw him post slightly lower numbers than Walker. Not only did Walker finish with a better batting average and OPS, but he also hit just eight fewer home runs, despite playing 32 fewer games due to injury. Additionally, Walker’s glove at first base is widely regarded as superior to Alonso’s, adding to his value.
Nightengale wrote, “While Pete Alonso of the Mets will be the highest-paid first baseman on the free agent market, club executives insist that Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker will draw much more interest at perhaps half the price.”
Though Alonso did make the All-Star game over Walker, there were some reports that claimed this should not have been the case. Just days before the All-Star Game, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal revealed the behind-the-scenes reasoning behind Alonso’s selection. According to Rosenthal, Alonso leveraged his participation in the Home Run Derby to secure his spot on the All-Star roster. Rosenthal commented on his Fair Territory podcast, stating, “Pete Alonso does not really deserve to be an All-Star, not over Brandon Nimmo, not over Francisco Lindor. But he’s in the game because he indicated that he won’t be in the derby unless he’s in the game, and they needed him in the derby.”
Other notable first basemen hitting free agency this offseason include Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell (who finished 2024 with the Diamondbacks), Carlos Santana, and Rowdy Tellez.
Stay tuned for further updates.
