Padres Missed on Arenado, Could Astros Walker Be a Fit?

Earlier today, it was announced that the Arizona Diamondbacks had traded for Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals are eating $31M of the $42M left on the remaining two years of Arenado’s deal.

The Cardinals have been trying to unload Arenado for two offseasons. He famously rejected a deal to the Astros last year before Houston acquired Isaac Paredes from the Cubs as part of the Kyle Tucker trade. He also was reported to have shot down trade talks involving the Angels as well.

Interestingly enough, the San Diego Padres were another team that was hot on the trail of Arenado before the Cardinals dealt him to the DBacks. Their plan was to move him to first base.

This inherently begs the question, if the Padres were willing to acquire a player who has looked to be in decline for six seasons, and now appears to be a shell of his former self with no power because they would get a good portion of his salary covered, would they entertain the same concept for Christian Walker of the Astros?

Walker, while having a ‘down season’ in 2025, still produced 27 HR and 88 RBI on an injury ravaged Astros club last season. He also produced a .799 OPS after the All Star Break. Arenado’s OPS last season was .666.

Walker also had won 3 straight Gold Gloves at 1B in the National League before signing in Houston last season.

Is there a line of demarcation where the Astros pay down a portion of Walker’s salary and the Padres are good with it? It certainly seems worth exploring.

Any deal of Walker would basically be a salary dump, as the Astros are seeking to unclog their infield jam and reduce payroll for more flexibility under the first tax line, so the return will be of low significance.

Walker also has a 6-team No Trade Clause, but the teams listed on that NTC have not been publicly released. It appears he can update those 6 teams annually per Spotrac.

While a NTC can complicate a deal and it’s discussions, it is also something that can be overcome with a sweetener (usually more money).

The overwhelming premise here is, if the Padres were willing to roll with a significantly diminished Nolan Arenado at 1B for potentially 2 seasons at a position he hasn’t played, might they be willing to do the same with Walker? It can’t hurt Walker hit .429 last season against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, and .400 against the Rockies (all Padres division opponents) with a combined 4 HR and 12 RBI in 12 games.

It seems a question Houston has to find out the answer to, and probably quickly.