Christian

Walker

Walker was 3-for-32 this spring prior to today. With Jeremy Peña out, all four of Houston’s infielders can play regularly at the beginning of the season, but Walker really needs to take advantage, since he seemed like a worse bet than the competition coming into the spring and he hasn’t helped his cause this month. He hasn’t even been unlucky, as today’s homer, which was second, came on his very first barrel in Grapefruit League play.

Walker opened the scoring in the ballgame, crushing a 336-foot (100.2 mph EV) solo shot off of Kyle Leahy to lead off the second inning. He also singled in the fourth inning and scored on an RBI knock by Taylor Trammell. Even with his two-hit attack, the 34-year-old slugger is hitting just .130 (3-for-23) on the spring, so perhaps this is just what he needs to get his bat going as we inch closer to Opening Day.

Rome added that the Red Sox and Pirates are among five legitimate suitors in the Paredes sweepstakes. With spring training kicking off next week it makes sense that Houston would attempt to resolve their existing corner infield logjam before the situation gets uncomfortable. With Carlos Correa taking over at the hot corner and Christian Walker’s albatross contract seemingly unmovable, Paredes lacks a clear role with the Astros heading into next season. His pull-centered approach would be an excellent fit in Fenway Park’s hitter-favorable dimensions although his lackluster defense at third base would adversely impact Boston’s pitching staff. Meanwhile, PNC Park is among the worst in the league for right-handed pull power, which would certainly diminish his fantasy appeal. There should be a resolution on the Paredes sweepstakes at some point in the coming days.

It remains unclear how Houston plans to incorporate Paredes into their infield mix with Christian Walker occupying first base and Carlos Correa stationed at third base. The 26-year-old slugging infielder’s pull-heavy approach seems like a perfect fit for Daikin Park’s favorable left-field dimensions and he projects as a 20-homer lock with everyday at-bats. The possibility of adding second base-eligibility is an interesting wrinkle for fantasy purposes but the Astros are committed to playing franchise cornerstone Jose Altuve at the keystone next season.

With Carlos Correa now back in town and Yordan Alvarez likely spending all of next season at DH, the Astros have a surplus of infielders and likely need to trade one of Walker or Isaac Paredes. The Astros would like to keep Paredes and play him at first base, but they would need to find a way to trade Walker. The 34-year-old did hit 27 home runs last season, but he has two years, $40 million left on his contract and has been declining offensively over the last couple of years. The Astros would likely get back far more in a trade for Paredes, so the question will be whether Houston prefers to make essentially a salary dump trade or tries to bring back players of value.

It’s too little, too late for Walker, as the Astros were eliminated from contention today. Still, he does have four homers in three games, upping his season line to .238/.298/.421. His OPS is back up to .718, barely lower than his season-high mark of .720. One more good game Sunday and he’d be one of the rare players to finish with his highest OPS of the season on the final day of said season.

Walker opened the scoring in the ballgame with a 408-foot (108.3 mph EV) solo shot off of Kyle Hendricks to start the fourth inning. That would be his only hit in four at-bats on the night. The 34-year-old slugger has had a bit of a disappointing season overall at the dish, slashing .236/.296/.410 with 25 homers, 86 RBI and a pair of stolen bases.

Walker plated a run with a fielder’s choice in the top half of the first inning that increased the Astros’ early edge to 2-0. He then punched a two-out RBI single into right field off of Bradley Basso in the fourth inning that made it 7-0. He then put the cherry on top of the victory for the Astros with a 366-foot (107.4 mph EV) solo shot off of Scott McGough on the first pitch of the eighth inning. The 34-year-old slugger has been swinging a hot bat down the stretch and is now slashing .236/.296/.406 with 24 long balls and 85 RBI on the season.

The Astros are giving their 34-year-old first baseman a breather though he’ll undoubtedly be used off the bench in a key spot at some point during Saturday’s battle against the M’s. Instead the Astros will load their lineup with left-handed bats with Victor Caratini starting at first base and batting fifth against Mariners’ right-hander George Kirby.

Walker smacked a one-out single into center off of Bryce Elder in the second inning then came around to score the game’s first run on an RBI knock off the bat of Yainer Diaz. He then pulverized a 1-2 sinker from Elder for a 431-foot (107.6 mph EV) two-run shot in the third inning that extended the Astros’ early advantage to 6-0.