Astros' Christian Walker: Agrees to deal with Houston
Rotowire
The Astros agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract with Walker on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The Astros have their first baseman, which means Isaac Paredes will play third base and Alex Bregman is likely to sign somewhere else. Walker, who turns 34 in March, is the premier defensive first baseman in the game, having won three straight Gold Gloves and boasting the defensive metrics to match. He's also averaged 31.7 home runs over the last three seasons and should provide a boost in the middle of the Astros' lineup, provided he doesn't experience the kind of steep aging curve Jose Abreu did.
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Christian Walker: Stiff-arms qualifying offer
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Walker rejected the Diamondbacks' one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
If Walker departs via free agency, the Diamondbacks will be in line to receive a draft pick in return. The veteran first baseman slashed .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs over 130 contests this season while winning a third straight Gold Glove.
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Christian Walker: Extended $21.05 million QO
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The Diamondbacks extended Walker a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
If Walker winds up departing via free agency, the Diamondbacks will net a draft pick. The first baseman won a third straight National League Gold Glove this season while slashing .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs over 130 contests.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Starts rally in win
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Walker went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Giants.
The Diamondbacks, who entered the night losers of their last three, were down early when Walker doubled to lead off the second inning and scored the first of three Arizona runs in the frame. He also singled home a run in the fourth. With the Diamondbacks still needing to secure a postseason bid, Walker should be a lineup regular in this weekend's series against the Padres.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Returns to lineup Monday
Rotowire
Walker went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Giants.
Walker was back in the lineup after getting a day off Sunday. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo talked to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports on Monday about giving Walker time off following his return from an oblique injury. "Yesterday I took [Christian] Walker out of the lineup... It's probably about three or four days too late to give him a day off, talking to the medical team," Lovullo said. Walker should be available for the final five games of the season.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Sitting for series finale
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Walker is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Josh Bell will start at first base against right-hander Frankie Montas as Walker sits after going 1-for-13 across the first three games of the series. Walker was hot initially after coming off the injured list in early September, and he's still batting cleanup most days for Arizona.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Clubs homer in loss
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Walker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Rockies.
Walker's eighth-inning blast cut the deficit to four runs before the Rockies fired back with two more runs of their own. The first baseman has gone 11-for-38 (.289) with three homers and eight RBI over 12 contests since he returned from an oblique injury. It's shaping up to be a strong end of the year for the 33-year-old, who is slashing .257/.344/.487 with 26 homers, 79 RBI, 66 runs scored, 23 doubles and two stolen bases over 119 contests.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Launches two homers in win
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Walker went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Rangers.
Walker went back-to-back with Joc Pederson in the first inning and added a two-run blast in the third. This was Walker's first multi-hit effort in six games since he returned from an oblique injury. The first baseman has reached the 25-homer mark for the third year in a row and the fourth time in six years, and he's added a .255/.338/.483 slash line with 76 RBI, 64 runs scored and two stolen bases over 113 contests.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Walker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Walker will hit the bench for the series finale in Houston after going 2-for-10 with two walks and a double while starting the previous three games. Josh Bell will start at first base and bat cleanup in his place.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Starts Thursday
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Walker started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Giants.
Walker returned to the starting lineup after a day off Wednesday. He was activated off the injured list Tuesday, and the Diamondbacks are easing him back to action after he missed five weeks with an oblique strain. Walker will eventually resume his role as the team's everyday first baseman. Josh Bell, who started in place of Walker on Wednesday, moved to designated hitter Thursday.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Garners hit in return
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Walker went 1-for-5 with an RBI in Tuesday's 8-7 win over the Giants.
Walker was in the starting lineup on the day he was activated from the 10-day injured list. He missed the entire month of August because of an oblique injury. Walker is set to resume his role as the everyday first baseman.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Returns from IL
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The Diamondbacks reinstated Walker (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
A left oblique strain sent Walker to the injured list at the end of July, and he's now set to reclaim his role as Arizona's everyday first baseman. The 33-year-old slashed .152/.293/.273 with a homer and five RBI across his last 10 games prior to getting hurt, and he may need some time to kick the rust off after not playing in any rehab games. Lourdes Gurriel (calf) was placed on the IL in a corresponding move.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Activation imminent
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Walker (oblique) will rejoin the Diamondbacks for this week's series in San Francisco, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
It would appear he will be activated from the 10-day injured list during the series, perhaps as soon as Tuesday. Walker has been working out at the team's spring training complex in Arizona and got in some live at-bats over the weekend. The first baseman has been sidelined since late July with a left oblique strain.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Takes batting practice
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Walker (oblique) participated in batting practice Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
After a few days of hitting off a pitching machine, Walker has now checked off another box in his hitting progression. Assuming he's able to get through another several rounds of BP without issue, he could potentially begin playing in simulated games over the weekend. It's unclear if he will require a rehab assignment before returning to the active roster.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Faces high-velocity pitching
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Walker (oblique) recently began hitting against a high-velocity pitching machine, MLB.com reports.
Walker, who was placed on the 10-day injured list July 30, continues to check off boxes during his rehab. The process began with running, dry swings, hitting off a tee and then progressed to facing soft-toss pitching. Now, after hitting high-velocity pitches from a machine, Walker's next step is live batting practice.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Taking soft-toss swings
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told MLB.com on Friday that Walker (oblique) is swinging against soft-toss pitching and doing light running.
Walker, who landed on the injured list July 30, remains hopeful he'll be ready to go by the three-week mark, which is fast approaching. This coming week marks his potential return. Fortunately for Arizona, the team has covered his absence well with the addition of Josh Bell, and the Diamondbacks don't have to rush Walker back.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Taking dry swings
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Walker (oblique) is not yet asymptomatic, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Walker, who landed on the 10-day injured list July 30 with a left oblique strain, could pick up a bat next week. The Diamondbacks are cognizant that oblique injuries are tricky for a baseball player and want Walker to be 100 percent before really ramping up. Arizona is getting by at first base with trade deadline acquisition Josh Bell, so the team doesn't need to rush Walker back.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Hits IL, out about three weeks
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The Diamondbacks placed Walker on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a strained left oblique.
Walker will head to the IL for the first time since the 2021 season after he tweaked the oblique muscle during Monday's 9-8 win over the Nationals. The first baseman was diagnosed with a low-grade strain following an MRI and hopes to rejoin the Diamondbacks in about three weeks, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. In a corresponding move, Pavin Smith was recalled from Triple-A Reno, but it'll likely be trade-acquisition Josh Bell that works as Arizona's primary first baseman for the duration of Walker's absence.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Expected to land on injured list
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The Diamondbacks received "relatively good news" on Walker's (oblique) MRI but are still expected to place him on the 10-day injured list, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Walker tweaked his oblique in Monday's win over the Nationals. While it sounds like the strain isn't overly severe, it's bad enough that he'll be out, at minimum, for the next 10 days. Arizona acquired Josh Bell via trade with the Marlins earlier Tuesday and will install him as its first baseman while Walker recovers.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Scheduled for MRI
Rotowire
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said after Monday's 9-8 win over the Nationals that concern about the left oblique injury Walker suffered during the game is "not minimal," ESPN.com reports. The skipper added that Walker is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
Lovullo is holding out hope that Walker won't have to miss much time, but the Diamondbacks won't have a clearer idea regarding the length of a potential absence for the first baseman until the results of his MRI are read. Walker can be viewed as day-to-day for now, but fantasy managers should at the very least expect him to be out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest. Kevin Newman came off the bench to replace Walker ahead of the fourth inning of Monday's game, but Arizona could recall Pavin Smith from Triple-A Reno and have him serve as the primary first baseman should Walker require a stint on the injured list.
