What can Christian Walker and Joc Pederson earn as free agents?

Major League Baseball free agency is here, as are plentiful team predictions and contract projections for notable free agents like first baseman Christian Walker and design hitter Joc Pederson.

Walker and Pederson are the Arizona Diamondbacks’ leading free agents, a group that also includes Randal Grichuk, Josh Bell, Paul Sewald and Kevin Newman.

The veteran first baseman is expected to be a hot commodity as the game’s best defenseman at his position and a consistent power threat after three straight very good seasons.

Now that the World Series is more than five days away, free agents can negotiate and sign with any team.

As the stove starts to heat up, let’s take a look at the contract projections for Walker and Pederson, who are expected to make the most money from Arizona’s free agents this winter.

Christian Walker contract projections

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel: 3 years, $57 million

Jim Bowden of The Athletic: 3 years, $72 million

The Athletic’s Keith Law: 2 years, $44 million

MLB trade rumors: 3 years, $60 million

Ben Clemens of FanGraphs: 3 yards, $51 million

Teams to watch: Diamondbacks, Astros, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets

The Diamondbacks extended the qualifying offer to Walker and guaranteed compensation in the event he left. Walker wins three consecutive Gold Glove Awards and has hit 95 home runs with an .813 OPS over the past three seasons. That combination of defense and hitting led to the veteran amassing 11.4 bWAR during that span, which ranks fifth among first basemen in the MLB.

Projections seem questionable. Walker would land a deal in three seasons because he turns 34 early next year, but his annual salary is expected to reach or even eclipse $20 million.

Pete Alonso is the top free agent at first base, but Walker is next in line. Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo and Carlos Santana are other notable free agents at the position.

Joc Pederson contract projections

McDaniel: 1 year, $15 million

Bowden: 2 years, $26 million

Law: 1 year, $16 million

MLB trade rumors: 2 years, $24 million

Clemens: 1 year, $14 million

Teams to watch: Diamondbacks, Rangers, Mets, Royals, Nationals

Pederson declined a $14 million mutual option and took a $3 million buyout. The 32-year-old gave the Diamondbacks everything they could ask for from a platoon of designated hitter used to crush right-handers.

Pederson hit 23 home runs and produced a .908 OPS with the Diamondbacks. He didn’t play a defensive inning, but still managed 2.9 bWAR.

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