The New York Yankees remain in the race to secure this offseason’s top free agent, Juan Soto. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner plans to meet with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, after their upcoming discussions with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. However, Steinbrenner may face tough competition, as Cohen, the wealthiest owner in MLB, could present Soto with an offer so compelling that he might opt to join the Mets starting in 2025.
Should the Yankees lose out on Soto, it might actually work in their favor. Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report suggests that missing out on Soto could open the door for the Yankees to pursue Christian Walker, a three-time Gold Glove-winning first baseman from the Arizona Diamondbacks, to replace the now-free-agent Anthony Rizzo. Beaston added that Walker would likely only be pursued if Soto signs elsewhere: “Prediction: Yankees sign Walker to replace Anthony Rizzo and make up for not landing Soto.”
While Walker’s .250/.330/.463 career slash line over 10 seasons doesn’t match Soto’s offensive power, he provides top-tier defense—a quality the Yankees lacked in 2024. Jeff Passan of ESPN described Walker as a “productive hitter” and “the best defensive first baseman in baseball,” adding that at age 33, Walker is well-positioned for a three-year contract.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Walker could secure a three-year, $60 million deal—much more affordable than Soto’s expected contract. With the flexibility saved from not signing Soto, the Yankees would not only gain Walker’s defensive skills but could also target additional free agents, potentially strengthening their roster for a World Series push in 2025.
