Christian Walker bats in the 3rd inning

Christian Walker, a Gold Glove-winning first baseman, and the Houston Astros agreed on a $60 million, three-year contract on Friday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press. The person asked to remain anonymous because the deal still depended on a successful physical.

The Astros made a trade last weekend, acquiring infielder Isaac Paredes from the Cubs in exchange for outfielder Kyle Tucker. With Walker’s agreement in place, it seems the Astros plan to have Paredes start at third base and will not be re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman.

Walker, who will turn 34 in the first week of the season, had a batting average of .251 with 26 home runs, 84 RBIs, 55 walks, and 133 strikeouts this past season. This was a drop from his 2023 numbers, when he hit .258 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs, helping the Diamondbacks reach the World Series.

He played in 130 games this year, fewer than his 157 games in 2023 and 160 games in 2022. He missed time between July 29 and Sept. 3 due to a strained left oblique.

Walker didn’t secure a permanent spot in the big leagues until 2019. Over the past six seasons, he has shown consistent power and become an elite defensive first baseman, winning Gold Gloves in each of the past three seasons.

Walker played college baseball at South Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. He made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2014 but struggled to stay in the majors, being claimed off waivers by Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Arizona in a five-week period.

“He’s a phenomenal player,” said Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen. “He’s the best defensive first baseman in baseball. He’s a self-made player in a lot of ways, and I respect that immensely. What that gave our clubhouse was a lead by example that was pretty elite.”

Walker earned $10.9 million last season and declined Arizona’s $21.05 million qualifying offer.

As part of the deal, Houston will lose its second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 amateur draft.