Yankees among teams targeting three-time Gold Glove winner

The New York Yankees could be ready to replace Anthony Rizzo with another multi-time Gold Glover.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Thursday that the Yankees are among the teams planning to “aggressively” pursue first baseman Christian Walker in free agency this winter. Nightengale notes that there are at least six teams in on Walker, including the Yankees, New York Mets, Washington Nationals and incumbent Arizona Diamondbacks.

Walker, 33, is a three-time Gold Glover who has been with Arizona since 2017, including as their starting first baseman for their 2023 World Series run. The righty hit .251 this past season with 26 home runs and 84 RBI in 130 games (after back-to-back 30-plus-homer seasons before that).

Fresh off their own World Series run, the Yankees now have a need at first base after recently declining their $17 million 2025 club option on Rizzo, their first baseman since 2021. Although Walker’s power and defense combination will make him a very coveted free agent we recently learned the Yankees could sign an even higher upside target at first base.