Neil Walker: If I Had It My Way, I'd Stay In Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – Pirates second baseman Neil Walker joined "The Fan Morning Show" Wednesday from the team's spring training home in Bradenton to talk about his eventful offseason and his future with the organization.
Walker, who is due to be a free agent after this season, said he's looking to move onwards and upwards after his stressful offseason, highlighted by a loss in his arbitration case against the team and questions abound about his future in Pittsburgh.
"You have to kind of separate that from the game of baseball itself and try to remove the emotional and the personal side of things," Walker said. "It's a growing experience, and it's something that a lot of guys go through when you get to this point in your career. But, to have it behind me and to be focusing on the 2015 season and the Pittsburgh Pirates is something that I'm very happy about right now."
Walker explained that, if he could have it his way, he won't be going anywhere.
"My dream and my focus has been from day one to be in a Pirate uniform my entire career, and that's still the case," Walker said. "I still hope that something can possibly get done, but it's also a very different time in my career where we're trying to work through some things and see if something can get done. But, if I had it my way, I'd be in Pittsburgh for my career. That's kind of all I can really say about the situation."
Walker is relieved to finally be getting on the field and away from the drama of this offseason.
"After I decompress from the offseason and the things that went on, and really when I got down here to Florida, my focus is on helping this team win a World Series. I'm real excited that the situation is done and my contract situation is done for this year, and I'm focused on helping this team on and off the field," Walker said.
The interview can be heard here:
Dan Zangrilli Pirates pre and postgame host on The Fan joined the "KDKA Morning News" with Larry Richert and John Shumway to discuss the future of Neil Walker.
Zangrilli discussed the conversation he had with Pirates President Frank Coonelly and says Coonelly told him, "(The Pirates) are engaged with Walker," in discussing a contract extension.
How far are the Pirates into extension talks with Walker?
"Probably not all that far, but at least they're having a conversation," Zangrilli said.
