Mark Carig of Newsday reports that extension talks between the Mets and second baseman Neil Walker have ‘hit a snag.’ Carig’s sources tell him that a sticking point in talks between Walker’s camp and the Mets had been how or if to restructure the first year of the deal.
As of now, Walker will be making $17.2 million in 2017 since he accepted the Mets’ qualifying offer. It is possible for the Mets to pay him less this season if he accepts an extension, which is expected to be somewhere in the range of three to four years with an annual salary of around $13 million.
If Walker accepts an extension, he would be the first player to do so after accepting a qualifying offer.
Last Update – Feb 19
Mets GM Sandy Alderson told reporters in Port St. Lucie on Sunday, that he spoke with the agent representing Neil Walker yesterday regarding a contract extension for the veteran second baseman.
Next on the agenda is to try and speak to Walker directly, which Sandy is hoping to do in the next day or two. Both of them have already discussed the possibility of an extension back in December.
Beat reporter Matt Ehalt has been covering this story for The Record, and he cites a source that confirmed the sides discussed a three-year deal in the range of $40 million dollars.
“We’ve had some discussions and nothing has come to fruition. For me, looking at this, there is no other place I’d want to be and looking down the road and looking at what’s here and what the potential next two, three, four years look like,” Walker said. “This is an exciting place to be as a big-league ball player.”
I totally agree with Ehalt, that at these numbers the deal seems fair for both parties, and he does a nice job of showing where Walker ranks among other MLB second basemen both statistically and financially.
But I wonder with what the Mets have coming in the pipeline plus that very reasonable $8.5 million option on Asdrubal Cabrera, if they really want to lock themselves up at second base with third base already in a quagmire. Especially with all our young pitchers now entering or already in their arbitration years.
Joe D.
Original Report – Feb 15
Neil Walker spoke with reporters today and mentioned that he and the Mets have discussed a contract extension.
Since the Mets traded prospect Dilson Herrera for Jay Bruce last summer, they have been without a high-level prospect at second base. An extension could solidify the position for years to come, however we at MMO just don’t see it happening.
The Mets won’t sign an extension deal until they see what they are getting for the $17.2 million dollars they’re paying him after he accepted a qualifying offer. If anything happens with an extension, it probably won’t before the All Star break.
Furthermore, the young Mets pitchers are starting to get paid so Alderson will probably look for cheaper position-player options for second base such as Wilmer Flores, T.J. Rivera, or Gavin Cecchini for additional payroll flexibility.
Walker said accepting the qualifying offer was an easy decision for him because he felt comfortable in New York and wants to be part of a winning team. “It seems like a confident group to me. We have the potential to do some damage this year.”
In 113 games for the Mets last season, Walker hit .282/.347/.476 with a career-high 23 home runs and 55 RBIs.
