Astros predicted to replace Christian Walker with 78 home run slugger

The Houston Astros just can't seem to figure out what to do at first base. 

Unfortunately, that's continued to be the case with first baseman Christian Walker, whom they signed during the offseason. The hope and expectation was for Walker to be one of the better first basemen in Major League Baseball again, but frankly, that's been the complete opposite. 

Walker is much better than he's playing, and the hope is that he’ll figure things out sometime in the near future. However, his .213 batting average and 10 home runs aren't exactly ideal. 

The Astros could look to replace him at the deadline, or just look to bring somebody in who could also have at-bats when needed. 

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CBS Sports recently linked them to a trade with the Baltimore Orioles that would see them acquire Ryan O'Hearn. O'Hearn, who can play first base and the outfield, might be one of the better bats traded at the deadline. 

“He's quietly (though perhaps not so much anymore) turned into a developmental win, boosting his stock from a Quad-A first baseman who struck out too much to a platoon ace who flirts with the 90-90 club. (That's 90% in-zone contact rate, 90 mph average exit velocity.) O'Hearn has seen more action in the outfield this season, and I suppose that added optionality can only boost his stock, even if the draw here is and will remain his well-above-average offense against right-handed pitching. Potential landing spots: Astros, Mariners, Braves,” they wrote.

The only problem with O'Hearn is that he's set to hit the free agency market at the end of the year. For the Astros, that might not be the biggest problem, as they likely don't want to commit to too much long-term money. If they’re looking for a player with control, however, O’Hearn isn’t that.

On the season, he's hitting .295 with 11 home runs and an OPS+ of 144.