UPDATE: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the deal is done pending medicals.
3:01 PM: Multiple reports are circulating that he Mets and Pirates are discussing a Jon Niese-for-Neil Walker trade. Kristie Ackert of the Daily News just spoke to a Mets source who tells her that a deal is “in the works.”
The Angels are also reportedly in the mix for Walker, but Niese is being talked up as an asset the Pirates are after.
Niese makes $9 million in 2016 which is what Walker is expected to fetch in arbitration. Niese posted a 4.13 ERA over 29 starts and four relief appearances this past season. Walker, a second baseman, hit .269/.328/.427 with 16 homers and 71 RBI. For the Mets he’d fill the void left by Daniel Murphy and serve as the fallback for Ben Zobrist, who they sought but failed to sign.
