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Should the Minnesota Twins Trade for Christian Walker?
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- Should the Minnesota Twins Trade for Christian Walker?
(Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)
The Minnesota Twins missed the postseason for the second straight year in 2026, finishing 77-85 and third in the AL Central. This offseason, the front office has a long list of needs. They need to add bullpen depth, catching, and potentially a new first baseman. That last one is where Houston Astros infielder Christian Walker enters the conversation.
Walker was reportedly discussed in trade talks between Minnesota and Houston during Carlos Correa negotiations at the 2025 deadline, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today .
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The fit made sense then and it still does on paper. Walker is a three-time Gold Glove winner at first base who hit 29 home runs and drove in 87 runs in 2026. His .727 OPS was below his career .773 mark and he struck out 147 times, but the defensive value is still there and his power is consistent.
The problem for Minnesota likely is the price tag. Walker is owed $20 million in 2027, the final year of his three-year, $60 million deal with Houston. That is a big commitment for a team with as many holes as Minnesota has.
The Twins could also give Royce Lewis another year instead. Lewis played 125 games in 2026 and hit .227 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs. His overall numbers were not great. He even spent some time in the minor leagues.
But he spent time at first base and Minnesota could reasonably decide that giving him a full season there is smarter than committing $20 million to a 35-year-old.
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For Houston, there are reasons to listen. Isaac Paredes had a strong 2026, hitting .262 with 25 home runs and 94 RBIs. He could easily take over every day at first base while Correa mans the hot corner in his place.
The Twins should not chase a move for Walker aggressively. Their bigger needs are pitching and catching, and those should come first. But if Houston is willing to eat a portion of that salary and they don't ask for much in return, Minnesota should hear it out. Walker's glove and power would upgrade the position immediately and it would prove this team wants to win now.
Without a team-friendly structure, though, this does not make much sense for the Twins. Letting Lewis play first base instead of non-tendering him and addressing the bullpen would be smarter. The idea of bringing Walker to Minnesota though makes sense.
