When it comes to the Houston Astros, few teams in MLB have endured as many injuries as they have. On their first road trip of the season, they lost three of their five starters to the injured list. They went 1-9 on the 10-game road trip.
Since then, and starting the season 5-2, which included a sweep of the Boston Red Sox, Houston has been dealing with injuries throughout their entire roster. They lost Carlos Correa to a season-ending injury. It’s one thing after another.
The 2026 MLB trade deadline is less than three months away. If things don’t turn around, general manager Dana Brown will face tough decisions. Relief pitcher Bryan Abreu has already been listed as a surprise candidate. Now, another Astros player, first baseman Christian Walker, is listed as a potential trade candidate by Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report.
Houston Astros First Baseman Christian Walker Listed As Trade Candidate
When the Astros signed Walker to a contract, they were hoping he could solve their need at a corner infield position. That has been the case for the most part. However, he was signed to a three-year $60 million contract that isn’t going to age well.
This season, he has nine home runs with 27 RBIs while slashing .276/.351/.513 in 42 games. If there is a time for Brown to sell high on Walker, it might be this summer. This is coming off a first season where he had 27 home runs and 88 runs driven in while slashing only .238/.297/.421.
“After a terrific run with the Diamondbacks, Christian Walker inked a three-year, $60 million deal with the Astros and immediately looked like a sunk cost in a disappointing first year in Houston,” Reuter wrote.
Signing Walker to the contract Brown did made sense at the time. However, coming off a back-to-back 30-plus home run seasons with the Diamondbacks, where he totaled 69 and drove in 187 runs, moving him makes sense if Houston gets the opportunity.
Houston Astros Will Have Some Difficult Decisions Coming Up
After missing the playoffs last year with a late-season fade, Houston was looking to get back this season. Unless things make some unexpected turns, that might not be the case. Instead of being buyers, the Astros could be sellers. This could be the chance to unload Walker’s contract.
“With his batted-ball metrics back to their previous levels and his counting numbers following suit, he has effectively rebuilt his stock as one of the better all-around first basemen in the game. If a struggling Astros team wants to get out from under his contract, now is his time,” added Reuter.
After nearly a decade of postseason berths and being World Series contenders, the door could be closing on the Astros’ core. It remains to be seen if manager Joe Espada survives the season, and Brown’s future could be up in the air. That could make for an interesting late summer in Houston.
Walker and Abreu are going to be players who would draw trade interest. If there is a year for Houston to sell, it might very well be 2026.
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