Christian Walker Would Be World Series-Level Upgrade for Brewers Amid MLB Rumors

Dustin Bradford/ Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker is in the midst of another statistically strong season, one of the best of his 10-year MLB career and one that will get him plenty of looks this offseason from teams looking to upgrade at the three spot as he enters free agency.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the Milwaukee Brewers are one such team.

He wrote, "While Pete Alonso of the Mets will be the highest-paid first baseman on the free agent market, club executives insist that Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker will draw much more interest at perhaps half the price. The Milwaukee Brewers are one of several teams that have interest if first baseman Rhys Hoskins opts out of his contract."

Walker would be an upgrade for the World Series-hungry Brewers. He is statistically better in every major, measurable category than Hoskins in 2024, except stolen bases, in which he has one less (2) than his counterpart (3).

The former South Carolina Gamecock has 22 more hits, one more home run, five more RBI, and a batting average nearly 40 points better than Hoskins. His on-base percentage is .337 to Hoskins' .299 and his OPS of .810 is significantly higher than the current Brewers first baseman's .714.

His WAR (wins above replacement) is not overly impressive at 2.4 but is greater than the current starter's -0.3.

His bat has been more consistent over his decade of play in the bigs and the last two seasons, the righty has amassed 266 hits. His 26 home runs are the fewest in three years, but he also played 32 fewer games this season than last.

Walker is a reliable hitter who has been a quality cleanup hitter in Arizona and could benefit the Brewers at that position in the lineup. Milwaukee has gotten 28 home runs total, just two more than the Diamondbacks star, and 151 hits, one more than Walker managed a season ago.

Of course, Hoskins would have to opt out of his current deal with the Brewers. Considering that he has underperformed this season, he is unlikely to find the money on the free agency market that he will receive from the team in 2025, making it more likely that he will return to the club.

Still, Walker has been the picture of consistency throughout his career and is a potential difference-maker for any team that acquires him. If he becomes available to Milwaukee, the team must consider acquiring him as it pursues its first World Series title.