Walker among the 12 to decline qualifying offer

Christian Walker was among the 12 players who declined a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer on Tuesday, ensuring the D-backs will receive Draft pick compensation if the veteran first baseman signs elsewhere this offseason.

Reds right-hander Nick Martinez was the only one of the 13 recipients to accept this year’s offer, which is determined by the average salaries of the 125 highest-paid players in the Major Leagues.

Walker and Pete Alonso, who turned down a qualifying offer from the Mets, remain the top first basemen available in free agency. Alonso is expected to command a more lucrative contract since he’s younger (he’ll turn 30 next month), but the late-blooming Walker should have a robust market as well.

Despite missing the entire month of August with a left oblique strain, the 33-year-old Walker batted .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs over 130 games for the D-backs in 2024. He also led National League first basemen with 13 outs above average, helping him win his third consecutive Gold Glove Award earlier this month.

A fourth-round pick of the Orioles in 2012, Walker has spent eight of his 10 big league seasons with the D-backs, who gave him his first chance to play every day after Paul Goldschmidt was traded to the Cardinals prior to the 2019 season.

Since then, Walker has emerged as one of the Majors' most valuable first basemen, recording a 123 OPS+ while leading his position with +38 OAA since the beginning of 2022. He ranks fifth among first basemen in Wins Above Replacement over the last three seasons, trailing only Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson and Goldschmidt, who is also a free agent.

MLB Trade Rumors predicted Walker will land a three-year, $60 million deal, with the Yankees, Tigers and Astros listed among his potential suitors.