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Why Yankees shouldn't sign Christian Walker
The New York Yankees need a first baseman. Christian Walker is one of the best first basemen available and, therefore, constantly connected to the Bombers in hot-stove conversations. But he is not the answer for New York.
Walker, a late bloomer who has blossomed into a B-level star with the Arizona Diamondbacks, does have a couple of things going for him, though.
He has decent pop, hitting a career-high 36 homers in 2022, following that up with 33 in 2023, and then crushing 26 in 479 at-bats last year. Walker is also a plus defender, having won Gold Glove Awards in each of the last three years.
However, Walker’s negatives far outweigh his positives.
The 10-year MLB veteran has a ho-hum .250/.330/.463 career slash line. For context, his career OPS+ is 114, only two points higher than Gleyber Torres’ mark. In other words, he’s not a great hitter.
Walker also strikes out a bit too much. He whiffed 133 times over 130 games in 2024. That may not seem like a dealbreaker, but consider that he’d be replacing Anthony Rizzo, who struck out just 65 times in 92 contests last year.
And 33 years old (he’ll be 34 in March), Walker is too old. He’s reportedly seeking a three-year deal, which means the Bombers would be stuck with him as a 36-year-old.
While there aren’t any better options currently on the market — Pete Alonso included — the Yankees are better off passing on Walker.
Many fans would be more excited to see a youngster like Ben Rice develop than to watch Walker age. Or if 28-year-old Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto heads to the U.S., he’d be an interesting option.
More must-reads:
- First baseman Christian Walker drawing interest from 'at least six teams'
- Report: Yankees rival ‘highly motivated’ to sign Juan Soto
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The 'MLB home run leaders since 1997' quiz
Cal Raleigh has had a magical season for the Seattle Mariners, and that continued in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. Not only did Raleigh hit a home run – his first of the postseason after a record-setting 60 in the regular season – he hit it to a Mariners fan in Detroit. The fan also happened to have a shirt that read “Dump 61 here,” and after catching the ball he removed the shirt for another that read “Dump 62 here.” Raleigh was joined by Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford in the homer party en route to an 8-4 win that brought the Mariners to within one game of the ALCS. Which brings us to today’s quiz. Raleigh’s 60-home run season not only led Major League Baseball, but also set records for the most ever by a catcher, a switch-hitter and a Mariner. With that being said, how many of the players to lead MLB in home runs since the 1997 season can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Commanders’ latest pursuit ends in uncertainty and uneasy silence
The Washington Commanders wanted to take a look at another once-promising edge rusher to give one of the team's surprising strengths a boost. However, early indications suggest that nothing will come from the visit. Adam Schefter from ESPN reported that the Commanders were among three teams that had scheduled meetings with Drake Jackson. Peters was part of the San Francisco 49ers front office that spent a second-round pick on the explosive pass-rusher, but injuries have decimated his time in the NFL so far. Jackson was let go by the Niners after barely featuring for the best part of two seasons. He was a gifted player in college, but San Francisco felt it was one roadblock too many for the player to overcome. Drake Jackson left the Commanders without a deal after his recent visit Peters wanted to know for sure. The NFL's transaction wire revealed that the Commanders spent time with Jackson on Tuesday, which probably involved a workout of some kind and some medical assessments as part of the team's due diligence. Jackson left without a deal. He's also set to meet with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, which might have something to do with it. But if the Commanders were 100 percent convinced that the former USC standout had something to offer, chances are that Peters wouldn't have let him leave the building. The Commanders' pass-rush has been among the team's biggest surprises this season. Fans were highly concerned about the lack of genuine quality or depth. Still, they've silenced their doubters and a whole lot more over the opening five weeks, generating pressure consistently and being among the most prolific teams against the run for good measure. Upsetting the current dynamic doesn't seem right now. At the same time, Peters is continually seeking ways to improve. He obviously saw something in Jackson during the Niners' pre-draft evaluations, but he'd have to be in supreme shape to make an impact. That might be the case, but it's not guaranteed. The Ravens might be in a better position to offer Jackson a roster spot. They recently traded Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers, so there could be an opening if everything goes well during that meeting. Washington is willing to adopt a wait-and-see approach, and Peters will have other options in mind if he's not entirely convinced. For fans, it's a waiting game. But they can relax, safe in the knowledge that those currently around are having the desired impact right now.
Steelers Coach Reveals The Secret Behind Their 2025 Draft Steal
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave up 299 yards on the ground in their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens to end the 2024 season. It was a loss that clearly stood out to the organization, highlighting the urgent need to improve their run defense. Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers made it a priority to address the defensive line. In the first round, they selected Derrick Harmon, a player known for his ability to disrupt running games and anchor a strong front. Harmon’s selection brought significant excitement to the team and its fanbase, signaling a clear effort to stop the run in the future. While Harmon was the headline grabber, the Steelers also found a hidden gem in fifth-round pick Yahya Black. Quietly, Black has been making a strong impression during offseason work and training camp. His combination of strength, technique, and ability to read plays has made him stand out as one of the biggest steals in the draft. Despite being a later-round selection, Black’s development suggests he could provide the Steelers with important depth and impact on the defensive line sooner rather than later. Steelers Defensive Line Coach Karl Dunbar spoke with the media about what went into evaluating Black. He highlighted the process of identifying under-the-radar players who have the potential to exceed expectations. Black’s selection reflects Pittsburgh’s careful approach to the draft. In this case, Dunbar thought he was able to see something that tape didn't. "We were lucky enough to get him in the fifth round because some of his college tape didn't really show who he was," Dunbar said. "But when I worked him out, and I was around him, I thought he could help us." Dunbar explained that the film Black put out at Iowa did not fully showcase his abilities. However, the Steelers coaching staff was able to see his potential despite what the tape showed. At the NFL Combine, Black ran a 5.39-second 40-yard dash, which Dunbar believes actually worked in Pittsburgh’s favor and reinforced the team’s belief that Black had the tools to succeed at the next level. "It worked out great for us, because I think he ran a 5.4 [second 40-yard dash time] at the Combine," Dunbar said. "I don't think that his Combine time was indicative to his play speed. So I think that's what's helped us out just to get him in the fifth round." The Steelers have not hit a home run with Black just yet. It is still very early in his NFL career, but even in the early stages, he is performing ahead of the typical fifth-round pick. Pittsburgh originally drafted him with the idea that he could provide depth down the stretch, but Black has quickly made it difficult to keep him off the field. Steelers' Yahya Black Not Under The Radar Anymore So far, Black has quietly excelled as an under-the-radar rookie. However, he is no longer a hidden gem. Expectations have grown, and he is now counted on to make plays consistently. The rest of the season will not be easy, but Black will look to build on the momentum he has created and continue proving why the Steelers took a chance on him. When Black first started trending upward in the offseason, it was all fun and games. Now, however, he is no longer under the radar. Steelers fans will expect him to build on this high praise as the 2025 season continues. Hearing Dunbar speak about what led to the Steelers drafting Black was super interesting.
Cowboys' Jerry Jones offers odd explanation for profane gesture at Jets game
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones had reason to celebrate as his club improved to 2-2-1 on the season via a dominant 37-22 win at the New York Jets on Sunday. However, Jones went viral when a video surfaced on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing him giving the middle finger toward an individual in the MetLife Stadium crowd. During a Tuesday appearance on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, Jones offered an odd explanation for what occurred. Jerry Jones admits to "unfortunate" gesture at Cowboys-Jets game "That was unfortunate," Jones acknowledged, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "That was kind of an exchange with our fans out in front of us. There was a swarm of Cowboys fans out front. Not Jet fans, Cowboys fans. The entire stadium was brimming with the enthusiasm of Cowboys, certainly late in the game. That was inadvertent on my part. It was right after we made our last touchdown. We were all excited about it, there wasn’t antagonistic issue or anything like that. I put up the wrong show of hand. I’m not kidding." Jones isn't wrong about MetLife Stadium being filled with passionate and loud Cowboys fans in Week 5. Many of those fans directed "MVP" chants toward Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott after he completed 18-of-29 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns against the Jets. At one point, Dallas held a 30-3 lead in the game's third quarter. As The Athletic's Jayna Bardahl mentioned, the NFL has a history of fining team owners for making "obscene gestures" toward fans and for throwing drinks in their direction while inside stadiums. Jones was indeed punished for his actions. Was Jerry Jones gesture "accidental?" "If you want to call it accidental, you can call it accidental," Jones added about his one-finger salute. "It got straightened around pretty quick, but the intention was thumbs up and pointing at our fans because everyone was jumping up and down excited." Jones' Cowboys next play at the Carolina Panthers (2-3) on Sunday. ESPN BET had Dallas as a 3.5-point road favorite for that matchup as of Tuesday.
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