The Houston Astros have made the playoffs seven years in a row, including an incredible run to the American League Championship Series last year to top off a season that was still in doubt as late as September. Despite their tenacity, this year’s team was all but eliminated from postseason contention (I expressed some concerns myself) after opening with a losing record.
However, things changed in Houston as the team improved to a 17-8 record in June, and they are now only two games behind the Seattle Mariners for the American League West lead. With the trade deadline approaching in a few weeks, the Astros have put themselves in position to add, with one of the most enticing potential trade assets firmly in their sights.
“The Astros, now a clear threat to win the West yet again, seek a starter (or two) and a hitter (possibly a 1B if it’s a clear upgrade),” according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. “The dream target is thought to be Diamondbacks 1B Christian Walker, a free agent to be.”
Walker is undoubtedly a player who can help the Astros return to World Series contention, reigniting the most productive dynasty in modern MLB history just when it appeared to be dead.
Jose Abreau, a $58.5 million veteran, started the year at first base, but his troubles led to him being optioned to the minors in May and discarded in June. Jon Singleton, Mauricio Dubón, and Joey Loperfido have since shared the role, but the opportunity to bring in an everyday slugger is tempting.
Walker is making $10.9 million in his final season of arbitration, implying that he might be traded by the Diamondbacks if the front management favours a future return above his possible contributions for the remainder of the season. The Diamondbacks are now at.500, two games short of a Wild Card place and more than nine games behind the leaders in the difficult National League West division.
If the Diamondbacks are open to offers for Walker, their asking price will undoubtedly be high, even if he is a one-year rental. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner is hitting.268/.340/.513 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI, the most by any first baseman in the majors. The price would be high, assuming the Diamondbacks are willing to sell Walker at all.
“Yet, let’s say Arizona were encouraged to sell, especially since Walker is in the final year of his contract and may not re-sign,” FanSided’s Mark Powell stated. “Getting something of substance for him now makes a lot of sense for the D’Backs.”
Powell offered a trade that would send Loperfido, one of baseball’s most promising young players, and right-handed pitching prospect Alimber Santa to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Walker. Historically, Astros owner Jim Crane has been ready to give away substantial young talent to keep the dynasty going, as he did when he signed premium starters Justin Verlander in 2017 and 2023 and Zack Greinke in 2019.
“It’s a pretty interesting group, and they will not hold back at the deadline,” predicted The Athletic MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal during a recent interview on “Foul Territory.” “They will try because they have done that repeatedly under Jim Crane in the past.”
Pitching may be the team’s most pressing need at the deadline, as injuries have decimated their roster, with starters Verlander, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Lance McCullers, Luis Garcia, and Jake Bloss all now out. And finding some blockbuster power at first base may be easier if the Astros add a player from a less competitive team, such as Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Chicago White Sox Andrew Vaughn — both of whom would offer the Astros team control beyond the rest of the season.
But few additions would revitalize the Astros’ postseason dynasty ambitions more than Walker.
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