The purge of veterans from Flushing continues as the New York Mets have traded second baseman Neil Walker to Milwaukee.
Neil Walker, like Jay Bruce, Lucas Duda and Addison Reed before him, is no longer a New York Met. According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a deal involving the nine-year veteran.
Neil Walker is being traded to brewers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 12, 2017
Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that the Mets will be eating some of Walker’s remaining salary in the deal.
Walker is owed roughly $5M the rest of the season and I heard #Mets are eating some to complete deal with #Brewers
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 12, 2017
But apparently, picking up some of Walker’s salary wasn’t enough to land an impact prospect in return. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets will receive a player to be named later from Milwaukee.
Mets getting a player to be named later for Walker, as of right now, according to a source.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) August 12, 2017
Walker was literally taking batting practice in Philadelphia when general manager Sandy Alderson presumably told manager Terry Collins about the move.
Sandy Alderson talking to Terry Collins behind the cage while Neil Walker takes BP. They just left field and went to clubhouse. pic.twitter.com/bcMlVgLsfk
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) August 12, 2017
This year, Walker is hitting .264 with 25 extra-base hits (10 HR), 36 RBI and a .780 OPS in 73 games. While he’s gone 6-for-9 in his last two games, Walker hasn’t exactly been tearing it up since returning from injury.
Walker spent 6 wks on DL with a partially torn left hammy but has been active since 7/28. Not hitting much lately: .569 OPS since comeback.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 12, 2017
In nearly two seasons with the Mets, Walker posted a solid .275/.344/.462 slash line along with 58 extra-base hits (33 HR) and 91 RBI.