Potential SF Giants first base solution now off the board after Astros deal

Going into this offseason, first base was seen as a potential upgrade for the SF Giants but not an absolute need for the team. With slugger Christian Walker reportedly signing a three-year $60 million deal with the Houston Astros, the Giants have one fewer option.

Giants fans will remember Walker from his eight seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had some very solid seasons in the desert, blasting 26 homers or more in each of the last three seasons.

First base was definitely more of a need for the Astros so it is not a huge surprise that they signed him. An average of $20 million per year is a little bit surprising considering he is going to be 34 years old next season, but perhaps that shows that Houston was a bit desperate to fill that hole on their roster.

SF Giants may stand pat at first base after Christian Walker signs with Astros

The Giants were never heavily connected to Walker, but it certainly would have been interesting to see what he could have done at Oracle Park. He definitely could have been a 25-homer per year kind of player, but the Giants would have been unwise to spend $20 million on him.

It seems increasingly likely that the Giants are going to roll with LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores at first base in 2025. Wade is no longer a big power threat, but his ability to get on base makes him valuable. Flores had a brutal 2024 campaign that was not helped by the injuries he had to deal with, but there is reason to believe he can return to a more recognizable version of himself if he is healthy in 2025.

Wade and Flores are set to make roughly $8 million next season when you combine their salaries which is a significant discount compared to Walker. Who knows, the two may even combine to have similar production to Walker next season depending on how things play out.

There are not a ton of other free agent options available that would be definite upgrades. Paul Goldschmidt would have made sense as a veteran option, but he just signed with the New York Yankees.

Yet, the Giants must also consider the fact that their top prospect Bryce Eldridge plays first base. They do not want to block him, so any free agent first baseman signing would have to be more of a short-term, stopgap deal.

There is no guarantee that Eldridge will be great, but the Giants would still be wise to give him an opportunity if he can hit his way to the big leagues.

Walker is off the board which makes it seem like the Giants may just stand pat at first base, but we will see how Buster Posey decides to address the position the rest of this offseason.