Trade For $10.9 Million ‘Dream Target’ Can Renew Astros Dynasty.
The Houston Astros have made the playoffs for seven years straight, including an improbable trip to the American League Championship Series last year to cap off a season still mired in doubt as late as September. Despite that resilience, this year’s edition had been all but counted out of postseason contention (I raised some questions myself) as they opened to a losing record.
But things changed in Houston after the team surged to a 17-8 record in June and they now sit just two games behind the Seattle Mariners for the lead in the American League West. With the trade deadline just a few weeks away, the Astros have placed themselves in a position to add, with one of the most tantalizing prospective 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 certainly an addition that can help propel the Astros back into World Series contention, renewing the most productive dynasty in recent MLB history just as it seemed well and truly dead.
To open the year, first base was manned by $58.5 million veteran Jose Abreau, but his struggles saw him optioned to the minors in May, then released in June. Jon Singleton, Mauricio Dubón and Joey Loperfido have since shared the role, but the potential to slot in an everyday slugger is appealing.
Walker is earning $10.9 million in his final season of arbitration, suggesting he could be dealt by the Diamondbacks if the front office prefers some kind of future return over his potential contributions for the rest of this season. The Diamondbacks currently sit at .500, two games out of a Wild Card spot and more than nine games out of the lead for the competitive National League West division.
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If the Diamondbacks are listening to offers for Walker, their asking price is sure to be high, even if he’s a one-year rental. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner is slashing .268/.340/.513 with 22 homers and 64 RBI, the most long balls of any first baseman in the majors. The price would be steep, if the Diamondbacks are willing to trade 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 suggested. “Getting something of substance for him now makes a lot of sense for the D’Backs.”
Powell proposed a trade that would send Loperfido, one of the most promising young players in baseball, along with right-handed pitching prospect Alimber Santa to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Walker. Historically, Astros owner Jim Crane has been willing to give up significant young talent to keep the dynasty running, as he did to add premier 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,” projected The Athletic MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal during a recent appearance on “Foul Territory.” “They will try because they have done that repeatedly under Jim Crane in the past.”
Pitching might be the team’s most pressing need at the deadline, as injuries have devastated their staff, with starters Verlander, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Lance McCullers, Luis Garcia and Jake Bloss all currently sidelined. And finding some blockbuster potency at first base might be more likely by adding a player from a less competitive team, like Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Andrew Vaughn of the Chicago White Sox — both of whom would give the Astros team control beyond the rest of this season.
But few additions would renew the Astros’ postseason dynasty hopes more dramatically than Walker.I’m a veteran journalist and editor covering Major League Baseball, reporting on the biggest stories
