Christian Walker's enthusiasm for Houston proves he's a perfect Astros target

As much as we all talk about projecting a player's production based on analytics and payroll flexibility, a good player simply wanting to be a part of an organization and a community matters a lot more than people are sometimes willing to acknowledge.

In order for the Houston Astros to create some form of spiritual continuity, they needed an impact bat this offseason that would fully buy into the Astros' vision as a contender. Of course, it would really help if that impact bat was excited to be in the city of Houston. It appears as though they may have found their man in Christian Walker.

Walker had been a speculative fit for the Astros all offseason long, as Houston needed a real first baseman who could tattoo the Crawford Boxes. The only question was whether or not the Astros would actually pursue him, given that they were seemingly prioritizing the negotiations with Alex Bregman over everything, and probably only had enough payroll room to sign one or the other.

We know the rest of the story. Talks with Bregman/Boras stalled for better or worse, and the Astros quickly pivoted to sign Walker to a three-year deal. That deal was made official on Monday, and Walker's comments about joining the Astros should have fans very excited.

Christian Walker's post-signing comments have Astros fans ready to run through a wall

To be fair, it wasn't like Walker was ever going to act surprised by the Astros' interest or be lukewarm about the signing in his first press conference. That seems like a great way to turn a fanbase against you almost immediately.

Still, he said all the right things. He talked about how he hoped Houston would give him a call this offseason, as they were one of his favored landing spots, and once they did, a deal came together quickly. No drama, no holding out for every single nickel he could squeeze out. Walker got what he considered to be a fair offer and jumped at the opportunity to play for a World Series with the Astros.

He also had a very relatable take later on, as Walker is apparently a bit of a foodie and seems to be rather excited about Houston's barbecue scene. A pro tip for Walker: don't ask for pulled pork in Texas and just enjoy what Texas barbecue is best at.

From a baseball perspective, the appeal for the Astros is abundantly clear. In addition to posting an .800+ OPS in three straight seasons in Arizona, Walker is a tremendous defender at first base, which helps create an even higher floor for his value over the life of his contract. That Walker was motivated enough to sign with Houston to abandon his desire for a four-year deal says a lot about how psyched he is to come in and perform.

Will it ultimately work out for the Astros? Time will tell, but it is clear that Walker is excited to be an Astro, and that could be the difference between an okay result and a great one.

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