Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Neil Walker To N.Y. Mets
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It only seemed like a matter of time, and now it appears to be official, the Pittsburgh Pirates have traded Neil Walker.
The Pirates will be getting starting pitcher Jon Niese in the trade.
The announcement was made by Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington.
The team issued a statement saying:
"We greatly appreciate Neil and all he has done for our club, both on the field and in our community," said Pirates President Frank Coonelly. He has always represented his hometown team with a great sense of pride and passion. For that we thank him and wish him and his family nothing but success as he continues his career in New York."
The trade is pending a physical.
Walker is 30-years-old and coming off a 16 home run, 71 RBI season.
Niese is 29-years-old and had a 9-10 record, 4.13 ERA.
Niese was bumped to the Mets bullpen in the playoffs, and is scheduled to make $9 million this year, $10 million in 2017, and $11 million in 2018.
"This is a true baseball trade in the sense that it helps fill an immediate need at the Major League level for each club," said Huntington. "We have liked Jonathon for some time now. He is an established veteran left handed starter who will fill an immediate role in our rotation, with the potential for two additional years under contract."
With Walker gone, the Pirates now have vacancies at second base, and first base.
In his 7 seasons playing for his home town team, Walker hit .272 with 93 home runs and 418 RBI while anchoring the second base position.
The Mets come to PNC Park to play the Pirates on June 6th.
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