After six years with the Arizona Diamondbacks, which included a trip to the 2023 World Series, it's adiós from Christian Walker who joins the Houston Astros on a three-year, $60 million deal this offseason.
Walker, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles, was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in Mar. 2017. He had his best season in 2023, where he slashed .258/.333/.497 batting line with 33 home runs and a career-high 103 RBI in 157 games. In 2024, although the team missed the postseason, he was consistent in putting runs across, stitching a .251/.335/.468 batting line with 26 home runs and 84 RBI.
Following the announcement of his signing, Walker let his feelings known through an Instagram post where he shared his gratitude for the Dbacks, where he built his career.
"I want to take a moment to reflect on the last 6 years with the Arizona Diamondbacks," Walker wrote in the caption of the post.
"I am grateful for the organization and the staff who believed in me and gave me the chance to earn a role in the big leagues. I am humbled by the effort of my coaches to show up and WORK every single day. I am thankful for my teammates,I made some life long friends in that clubhouse and I will cherish those relationships forever.
"We battled everyday and shared some special moments along the way. Lastly, thank you to the fans and the city of Phoenix. Without your support, none of this is possible. Chase Field is an amazing place to play and I’m glad I had the opportunity to earn your respect. THANK YOU Arizona."
"No brainer" for Christian Walker to sign with Houston Astros
Christian Walker may not have had a World Series in his resume, prompting him to sign with the team that has had the most in the last decade.
After missing qualifying for the 2024 ALCS, snapping their seven-season streak of making the pennant series, the Astros are committed to getting back there in 2025, and Walker is expected to be one of the many signings this offseason.
As for the first baseman, he said that it was a "no-brainer" to sign with Houston with a prompt signing.
"They were circling," Christian Walker said via Chandler Rome of The Athletic. "This was my first time going through free agency, so I didn't really know what to expect. Circling, circling, circling and it's real interest and it happens quick.
"We had some momentum. We wanted to get it done. They wanted to get it done. It was a no-brainer."
Joining the Astros comes up with keeping up with boos, as Christian Walker joins the Astros who have had a controversial cheating scandal in the past.