Mariners Could Target Christian Walker
Could Christian Walker Be Headed to Seattle?
Veteran First Baseman Draws Interest from Mariners
Christian Walker may not command the same massive contract as fellow free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, but the 33-year-old slugger is still attracting plenty of attention. After a season where he smashed 26 home runs in just 130 games and posted an OPS over .800 for the third consecutive year, Walker is a coveted target for teams looking to bolster their infield.
While the New York Yankees have been linked to Walker,MLB Network analyst Jon Paul Morosi believes another team is worth watching: the Seattle Mariners.
“I think [Walker] on a three- or four-year deal, where he brings defensive value and power to the plate… I think the Mariners are one of the destinations to watch in the coming days,” Morosi said.
The Mariners enjoyed solid production from their first basemen last season,ranking eighth in the league in wRC+ (weighted runs created plus).However, one of their primary contributors, Justin Turner, is now a free agent, and the other, Luke Raley, is primarily an outfielder.
While Alonso has hit more home runs over the past three seasons (120 to walker’s 95), Walker offers considerably superior defense, boasting 36 Outs Above Average compared to Alonso’s -16.
Could walker’s combination of power and Gold Glove-caliber defense be the missing piece for the Mariners’ playoff aspirations? Only time will tell.
Could Christian Walker Be Headed to Seattle?
Veteran First Baseman Draws Interest from Mariners
Christian Walker may not command the same massive contract as fellow free agent first baseman pete Alonso, but the 33-year-old slugger is still attracting plenty of attention.After a season where he smashed 26 home runs in just 130 games and posted an OPS over.800 for the third consecutive year, Walker is a coveted target for teams looking to bolster their infield.
While the New York Yankees have been linked to Walker, MLB network analyst jon Paul Morosi believes another team is worth watching: the Seattle Mariners.
“I think [Walker] on a three- or four-year deal, where he brings defensive value and power to the plate… I think the Mariners are one of the destinations to watch in the coming days,” Morosi said.
The Mariners enjoyed solid production from their first basemen last season, ranking eighth in the league in wRC+ (weighted runs created plus). Though, one of their primary contributors, Justin Turner, is now a free agent, and the other, Luke Raley, is primarily an outfielder.
While Alonso has hit more home runs over the past three seasons (120 to Walker’s 95), Walker offers considerably superior defense, boasting 36 Outs Above Average compared to Alonso’s -16.
Could Walker’s combination of power and Gold Glove-caliber defense be the missing piece for the Mariners’ playoff aspirations? Only time will tell.