Talking about Neil Walker with you guys in here

[TransMonk]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Sherman says this is a done deal

Small other matters = checking to see if Niese is crying.

[Ceetar]

Kristie Ackert @Ackert_NYDN #Mets source called to clarify. "definitely in the works, not close to being done".....I Apologize for any confusion. 3:04 PM - 9 Dec 2015 From my point earlier, why is a Mets source calling in to clarify anything while negotiations are going on? Negotiate first, talk about it after the fact.

I think I'm okay, with the way the media is, with them clarifying when rumors of 'done deal' get ahead of the negotiations. Don't want to make Flores cry again.

[nymr83]

TransMonk wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Sherman says this is a done deal Small other matters = checking to see if Niese is crying.

Pending Medical review is a big deal around here.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I am so much in favor of this rumored thing, if it is straight up for Niese. Fills a direct need without creating another gaping hole, and we're still all easy-breezy, with no long-term commitment being doled out to some old-ass dude. Potentially 2 thumbs up from me.

PS - good call by JCL last night, eh.

[Guest d'Kong76]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: PS - good call by JCL last night, eh.

Indeed.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

With Walker, I think you get a guy who's maybe less likely to be game-changing than Zobrist. OTOH, playing for a new contract, not a longterm committment.

Muffy & Niese gone! They were longtime sufferers.

[nymr83]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: With Walker, I think you get a guy who's maybe less likely to be game-changing than Zobrist. OTOH, playing for a new contract, not a longterm committment. Muffy & Niese gone! They were longtime sufferers.

were they 2nd and 3rd behind Wright in tenure?

[Ceetar]

Nymr83 wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: With Walker, I think you get a guy who's maybe less likely to be game-changing than Zobrist. OTOH, playing for a new contract, not a longterm committment. Muffy & Niese gone! They were longtime sufferers. were they 2nd and 3rd behind Wright in tenure?

Parnell may have been ahead of Niese? I forget.


I don't hate this trade. It'll do. Walker's fine, better than fine perhaps though seemed a little power-sapped last year.

[Edgy MD]

Wright and Duda (for a few weeks) will be the last guys to have reached the bigs under Omar. Mejia, too, if he returns.

[Frayed Knot]

TransMonk wrote: Adam Rubin wrote: The Mets appear to have pivoted to Walker after striking out in their attempt to land Ben Zobrist. I vastly prefer one year of Walker to four years of an aging Zobrist. I don't see any way that this trade would not trump signing Zobrist as the better move for the Mets both in the short term and the long.

Well short-term maybe not in that it cost us Niese (even if that's not as big a hit as it would have been 2-3 years ago) and that Zobrist may be the better player right now.
Long-term is more iffy in that there won't be the big commitment to an aging player (who may or may not be earning his keep by then) but we will have to fill the job again next year.
The upside scenario is one where this gives us the time to nurture a home-grown replacement and/or the financial flexibility to make moves in the for '17-'19 without the Zobrist contract in the way.

But, like you, I banking on scenario #3 as the best option right now and officially give this deal my stamp of approval.

Kind of an emotional trade in the sense that it's a straight-up one-for-one deal involving two guys who were drafted and 10 (Niese) and 11 (Walker) years ago and have never known another org.
Walker, as I mentioned at the top of this thread, was also a hometown boy who was extremely popular in Pittsburgh after being just an 11th round draft pick. Niese always had that birthday connection to the club (b. 10/27/86 - something which out-of-town announcers often found fascinating) and was a good egg during his time here giving the club more than one normally has the right to expect from a 7th round choice. And, as noted, it also spells the end of Murphy's time here.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: ...but we will have to fill the job again next year.

I tend to think the solution will present itself internally before the year is even up.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'm OK with this. Walker's solid, and there's no long-term commitment. Niese was expendable.

[Edgy MD]

Bartolo buzz instantly bubbling up on the interwebs.

Or Bartolo bubbles are instantly buzzing up, I'm not sure.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm looking forward to tonight's Mets Hot Stove.

[Gwreck]

Edgy MD wrote: Wright and Duda (for a few weeks) will be the last guys to have reached the bigs under Omar. Mejia, too, if he returns.

Didn't Wright reach the majors under Jim Duquette?

[RealityChuck]

It shouldn't be hard to replace Niese in the rotation, with Gilmartin, Verrett, and Montero (remember when he was supposed to be better than deGrom?) all available even if Colon doesn't sign.

[Centerfield]

The best part of this move is that it doesn't cost them much money, if any.

Which means they can still improve the OF, bullpen and bench. Good move. Nice recovery.

Great call JCL.

[metsmarathon]

I'm hoping that this move, which I love btw, paves the way for a Heyward signing.

Also the Mets could get a pick out of walker if he walks at the end of the year.

[Centerfield]

metsmarathon wrote: I'm hoping that this move, which I love btw, paves the way for a Heyward signing. Also the Mets could get a pick out of walker if he walks at the end of the year.

Yes, yes and yes.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: ...but we will have to fill the job again next year. I tend to think the solution will present itself internally before the year is even up.

Ideally, yes.
Actually my ideal solution involves finding a true SS and moving Wilmer over the 2nd but there's plenty of water to go under the bridge before we have to make that decision.

[Centerfield]

More cool stuff about Neil Walker:

1. Has said he's happy to fill in at 3B when needed. Reports are that he can play the position.

2. He's a switch hitter. Much better from the left side. Which means he is a good candidate to platoon with Herrera. Overall Neil Walker is pretty good. His .769 OPS over the last 3 years is better than Zobrist. And at age 30, much more likely to sustain it. But if you platoon Walker, LH-hitting Walker has an .809 OPS over the last three years, and has hit 53 of his 55 HR's from that side.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Walker wound up at second only after playing catcher and 3B in the minors. More or less learned 2B on the job.

His dad, Tom Walker, was a relief pitcher in the 70s. His sister married Don Kelly, who was on the Tigers.

Wifey Niki and he very poutylipped:

[Fman99]

Yay! Smart move by the Mets. Niese was not part of the long term plan anyway. I will miss you, Muffy, and all of your flash (and foibles).

[Zvon]

Centerfield wrote: metsmarathon wrote: I'm hoping that this move, which I love btw, paves the way for a Heyward signing. Also the Mets could get a pick out of walker if he walks at the end of the year. Yes, yes and yes.

Another yes and furthermore, yes, no chance of a return engagement now.
I'll miss Da Murph.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

All the good stuff happens when I'm out of radio contact. Let me add my congratulatory spit-and-tug to Human Ouija Board JCL-- NICE call.

I'm talking myself into this. Upon closer look, Walker is far better than a consolation prize; he's Zobrist's equal with the bat (punchier, if slightly less on-base-y) over the last three years, and nearly as good (or, rather, non-terrible) with the glove. Coupled with the Cabrera signing, this makes the middle infield into a nice, deep place-- plenty of pop against lefties AND righties; slightly upgraded defense-- for the next season or two.

[TransMonk]

Per Metsblog, Walker will wear #20. His dad wore #20 in the 70s when he started out in Montreal. #20 is retired in Pittsburgh.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

He'd be the first second baseman to wear 20 since Kurt Abbott!

[Edgy MD]

I like when MLB legacy pitchers are the sons of hitters and hitters who are sons of pitchers.

[Frayed Knot]

The NY Post's Kevin Kernan has been spending the last week or so getting the jump on pre-ST stories.
Here he takes a look at Neil Walker

[Edgy MD]

It turns out that Neil Walker is lucky to exist, as his father is sort of the Dion DiMucci of baseball.

Tom Walker was friends with Roberto Clemente, having met the Pirate legend in winter ball, and helped him load the plane of relief supplies headed to Nicaragua. The story goes that Walker asked to fly down with Clemente, but Roberto dissuaded him, encouraging him to spend New Year's with his family.

Here's Tom Walker getting his Shea on.