According to reports, the New York Yankees were considering Christian Walker as their first baseman. They were quite willing to secure his services post the departure of Juan Soto to the New York Mets. However, signing him could have amounted to over $100 million for four years. It was rather a significant investment, considering that he is already 34 years old and there are certain risks with long-term contracts. 

The New York Yankees would have opted for a change in the strategy in the upcoming seasons if Walker was signed. The deal would have come at a much higher cost, which the Yankees were unwilling to afford. However, signing the left-hander Max Fried for $217 million turned out to be a great deal, and they managed to come up with more inexpensive options. More importantly, they did not lose the draft picks that would have resulted from the addition of Walker. Thus, the doors were finally closed for Walker to come into the team.

The Yankees are giving up on the chase for Christian Walker

The New York Yankees were willing to go with the inexpensive options for the first baseman. They have options galore, especially the free-agent alternatives like Carlos Santana, Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell, and more. They had the privilege to get Cleveland Guardians’ Josh Naylor and Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers, who were much less expensive when compared to Wilkins. The Yankees even thought that once they signed Walker, they would lose the two draft choices as well. Moreover, signing Walker for a long-term contract might not be an ideal one considering his age.

The New York Yankees put an end to all the speculations surrounding the signing of Christian Walker. Despite sacrificing their major picks, they did not have to lose their two draft choices, which made the deal a successful one. The team did not commit the same mistake that they did earlier when signing multiple free agents, who rejected multiple qualifying offers. However, they now need to look for options at the center field or left and an infielder too. The Giants, considering their need for a first baseman, consider Ben Rice a strong option for the position.However, they are quite lucky to have Max Fried on Board. 

Options available for the Yankees to make a significant impact

Although getting Max Fried on board looked like a more inexpensive option, the Yankees were unable to bring a reliable baseman like Walker. Coming down to the options available as free agents, the Yankees could play Cody Bellinger in either center or left. They could even move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the second and Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu to the third. There is a chance for Ben Rice to fill the first baseman position as well. He is a great young talent, who combines both damage and lift ability. This creates a major impact while pulling the ball when ahead, making contact with the barrel much earlier. It further leads to greater bat speed, which can be a great thing for the team. 

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Though the Yankees have multiple options, signing multiple agents, especially those who rejected the qualifying offers, might turn out to be problematic. It results in losing two draft picks, which is a big blow for many of the teams. The team’s condition is stable, keeping the race open for Ben Rice to get the first baseman job during spring training. It is mainly because Rice’s swing is quite compact when he is behind the counts.

Yankees’ new left-handed pitcher Max Fried has been all over the news since his acquisition by the team. The standard that the team holds is quite high, and Max needs to do his best for the team. He would be able to share the dressing room with the greats and learn a lot from them. The inclusion of Rice could further add to the balance in the team’s lineup, making the team a powerhouse to reckon with.