New York Mets: Neil Walker Accepts Qualifying Offer
Jul 31, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker (20) celebrates his three run home run with first baseman James Loney (28) during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. New York Mets won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

With 2017 free agency set to begin, Neil Walker gives the New York Mets and their fans some clarity and hope.

The New York Mets batted .500 today as it relates to pending free agents.

Almost everyone on Earth knew that Yoenis Cespedes was going to reject his qualifying offer and he did so very early in the day.

But with around three hours left before the 5 p.m. ET deadline, Neil Walker made the day a win for the Mets by accepting his qualifying offer.

Walker batted .282 with 23 home runs in 113 games before having season-ending surgery for a herniated disc in his back.

With Walker on the roster for 2017, it gives the Mets legitimate depth in their infield with the likes of all-around man Wilmer Flores, Jose Reyes, Lucas Duda, Asdrubal Cabrera, and don’t forget, David Wright, coming back for this season.

The Mets’ priorities for the offseason are pretty clear.

  1. Re-sign Cespedes or sign another OF bat
  2. Bolster the pen with Jeurys Familia suspension likely
  3. Trade Jay Bruce for another OF

The Mets and Neil Walker both seem happy with what transpired on Monday.

People ask me what I do in the summer when there's no hockey, I tell you what I do, I still talk about hockey.