Transaction Poll: Walker for Niese

[Edgy MD]

We haven't taken the official temperature on deals this offseason. We ought.

[fimg=350:zi3dga14]http://isportsweb.com/wp-content/uploads//2015/02/neil-walker.jpg[/fimg:zi3dga14] [fimg=350:zi3dga14]https://metsmlb.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/jon-niese-1-slice3.jpg[/fimg:zi3dga14]

[TransMonk]

Love. Niese was expendable and Walker is a short term solution that can play well. He's better than Murph on D and I like having switch hitters.

I much prefer this move to the deal Chicago gave Zobrist.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Like; Eh wasn't a choice.

[Fman99]

I like it. Murph was never coming back -- and Niese had no role on the 2016 roster, assuming that they wanted to bring Bart back before making the deal.

[Centerfield]

I like this deal a lot. I won't go as far as to say "love" because Walker is not a star player, but everything else is great. The one year commitment, the net effect on salary. Niese was a good pitcher, and the rotation is thinner now, but this trade fits perfectly.

Walker can play 2nd. He can fill in at 3rd. He hits left-handed, so he can even platoon with Herrera. And if he's good you can bring him back. If not, get a draft pick and clear the way for Herrera.

Much better option than Zobrist. Should have been option 1 from the beginning.

[Lefty Specialist]

It was a better move than Zobrist for 4 years. Cleared the path for Big Sexy to come back. Gives Dilson Herrera a year to watch and learn. And Walker's a solid player who'll be playing for a big contract. A good move.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I would like to hear from the Nay-sayers.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Like; Eh wasn't a choice.

I think that this is the "Eh" choice: I am indifferent toward this deal.

[Benjamin Grimm]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I would like to hear from the Nay-sayers.

I voted Like, but here are some reasons that I think might cause someone to vote thumbs down:

* The Mets are depleting their pitching depth.
* It blocks Dilson Herrera.
* Three years of Niese were swapped for only one year of Walker.
* It means Daniel Murphy won't be coming back.

[TransMonk]

The Mets still have some pitching depth with Verrett, Montero and Wheeler set to return mid-season. If the Mets had a piece to deal, the obvious one was Niese.

The move only blocks Herrera for one season. If he's good enough, he'll make the club later in the year anyway. This move doesn't rely on Herrera producing as an everyday player right away.

I'm of the opinion that Niese was going to be dealt sooner or later. I didn't see a way that he was going to finish out his contract with the Mets.

Murph wasn't coming back anyway.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I would like to hear from the Nay-sayers.

I voted "like" too but I'm sorta from Missouri on Walker overall. I like it inasmuch as its relatively easy to move on from if it doesn't work out, but hard to imagine Walker is anything more than the Jon Niese of second base.

[Ceetar]

I honestly think this wasn't a great return, hell look at what Leake just got from the Cardinals. I know Niese seems to have been trending downward velocity-wise and might be a concern, but our pitching is pretty righty-heavy too and it might've been nice to keep the lefty.

But I like Walker enough and he feels a nice need of depth and talent and probably will end up adding more to the Mets specifically than Niese would've.

So tepid 'yay'?

[Centerfield]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I would like to hear from the Nay-sayers. I voted "like" too but I'm sorta from Missouri on Walker overall. I like it inasmuch as its relatively easy to move on from if it doesn't work out, but hard to imagine Walker is anything more than the Jon Niese of second base.

And if they move on, they get a draft pick!

[Gwreck]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I would like to hear from the Nay-sayers.

I voted "dislike."

1. I wanted Niese to be the fifth starter this year, not Colon. Niese is substantially younger, and brings more left-right balance to the rotation.

2. Nobody knows if Zack Wheeler is going to step right into the rotation and be a great pitcher after Tommy John surgery. Plus, I'm sure there will be a need to limit innings at least for Matz and Syndergaard. Niese has value for the entire 2016 season.

3. Niese has a team-friendly contract not just for 2016 but also for 2017 and 2018. He would have been just as tradeable after 2016, and after the Mets had a better idea of what they are going to get from Wheeler.

4. I wanted the Mets to acquire players this offseason without having to give up valuable assets. Neil Walker would have been a fine acquisition after the 2016 season when all he would have cost would have been money. Instead, he's cost 3 seasons of control of Jonathan Niese at a reasonable price.

5. I generally disapprove of the moves the Mets have made this offseason. The failure to adequately upgrade the offense is inexcusable, in my opinion. I suppose one could suggest that in a vacuum, the Walker trade is fine. As part of the larger plan, not so much.

[Edgy MD]

I voted dislike. I dislike trades and I generally want to see a team succeed without resorting them.

Choosing "dislike" instead of hate generally means I think this has a more-or-less good chance to break well, as trades go. I'd go up to neutral if I think the guy we dealt was a real turd.

[Centerfield]

Gwreck wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I would like to hear from the Nay-sayers. I voted "dislike." 1. I wanted Niese to be the fifth starter this year, not Colon. Niese is substantially younger, and brings more left-right balance to the rotation. 2. Nobody knows if Zack Wheeler is going to step right into the rotation and be a great pitcher after Tommy John surgery. Plus, I'm sure there will be a need to limit innings at least for Matz and Syndergaard. Niese has value for the entire 2016 season. 3. Niese has a team-friendly contract not just for 2016 but also for 2017 and 2018. He would have been just as tradeable after 2016, and after the Mets had a better idea of what they are going to get from Wheeler. 4. I wanted the Mets to acquire players this offseason without having to give up valuable assets. Neil Walker would have been a fine acquisition after the 2016 season when all he would have cost would have been money. Instead, he's cost 3 seasons of control of Jonathan Niese at a reasonable price. 5. I generally disapprove of the moves the Mets have made this offseason. The failure to adequately upgrade the offense is inexcusable, in my opinion. I suppose one could suggest that in a vacuum, the Walker trade is fine. As part of the larger plan, not so much.

All fair points.

[Edgy MD]

We don't even know if Wheeler is going to be a good pitcher. Great would be... great. But it's not like he had even reached that level before the injury. So yeah.

But with the caveat of you can never have enough pitching (with the possible exception of the 2015 Mets), there's still some redundancy to be hopeful about in there.

[nymr83]

I really can't make up my mind on this one. i think it improves the team but increases the risk of disaster if Syndergaard gets hurt or Scott Boras decides Harvey can't pitch through a hang nail or the common cold.

Gwreck makes good points that helped move me to "indifferent" from being a slight "like"

what else was available at 2B? we'll see what Murphy gets paid and that will help inform if we got robbed here or not.

[TransMonk]

Edgy MD wrote: We don't even know if Wheeler is going to be a good pitcher. Great would be... great. But it's not like he had even reached that level before the injury. So yeah.

I'm of the opinion that if Wheeler can be as good as he was pre-inury, that's good enough considering what the rest of the rotation should be.

I know that's not a given, but until he's out there, I prefer not to expect worse.

[G-Fafif]

"Walker for Niese" jumped out at me as a worst-case scenario following one of the pitcher's many trips to the DL.

[Theoldmole]

I'd pretty much echo Mr. Grimm.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Amazin' detail of this trade: Walker took over the lease for Niese's apartment.

[Edgy MD]

Cards got to Niese for four runs over five innings his first time out as a Pirate. Bucs came back and won it in 11.

[TransMonk]

Only four runs were earned for Jon. I wonder how he feels about that superior Pittsburgh defense.

St. Louis - Top of 3rd Jonathon Niese pitching for Pittsburgh Díaz singled to right. Wacha sacrificed to catcher, Díaz to second. Carpenter walked. Piscotty singled to left, Díaz to third, Carpenter to second, Díaz scored, Carpenter to third, Piscotty to second on error by left fielder Marte. Holliday grounded out to second, Carpenter scored, Piscotty to third. Grichuk struck out swinging. St. Louis - Top of 5th Jonathon Niese pitching for Pittsburgh Carpenter struck out swinging. Piscotty tripled to deep right center. Holliday safe at second on throwing error by shortstop Mercer, Piscotty scored. Grichuk struck out swinging. Molina struck out swinging.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I updated Niese's woes in the Castaways thread.

Meantime, Niese isn't moving into Neil Walker's Pittsburgh digs but he did take one thing from him.

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Amazin' detail of this trade: Walker took over the lease for Niese's apartment.

that is kind of weird , but maybe not. I wonder how often things like this happen.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think the Mets have a guy who arrange these details, not to mention player agents do this kinda shit for them alot.

I wonder if the Niese/Walker residence is a Fred Inc. building.

[Edgy MD]

I'm just amazed looking at the poll results and seeing the overwhelmingly positive response on this trade.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I mean, it's no BIG surprise, is it? There were, and are, a lot-- a lot-- of positives to the trade, even before you consider more carefully the specific on-field-abilities of the players involved. Need for need, dealing from a position of strength to fill a pressing need, buying apparently low, the expiring deal/how it fits our roster... plus, most anyone here who had feelings for Niese had feelings of the past-fondness variety, right?

[TransMonk]

I voted love then and I'm still a love now.

Walker is a more cost effective and shorter term commitment than a Murphy re-sign would have been without sacrificing much in the way of overall production over Daniel. Niese would not have been one of the top four pitchers on the 2016 staff and his salary can be used elsewhere.