Mets, Pirates close to Neil Walker-for-Jonathon Niese trade

The Mets and Pirates have agreed to a trade that will send second baseman Neil Walker to New York in exchange for lefty Jonathan Niese, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Walker hit 16 homers in 2015, the third straight season in which he’s reached that mark, but his numbers against southpaws once again left a lot to be desired (.237/.284/.290).

Walker will replace Daniel Murphy, the Mets’ playoff hero in 2015, who is expected to sign away as a free agent.

A Pittsburgh native, he has spent his entire career in the Pirates organization after being taken in the first round in 2004.

After losing out on Ben Zobrist, the New York Mets chose to go another direction at second base.

Walker, 30, will only be under team control for one more season. In his career he has pitched to a 61-61 record, with a career 3.91 ERA and 95 ERA+ (100 is average) in over 1,000 innings pitched. Instead, Niese will be shipped out so he can start elsewhere and the Mets will retain their dominant, young rotation. His contract contains a $10 million club option in 2017 and an $11 million club option in 2018. He was bumped to the bullpen for the postseason, and has no clearly defined role once Zack Wheeler returns this summer to become the No. 5 starter.