Mets get 2B Neil Walker from Pirates for LHP Jonathon Niese

The Mets acquired second baseman Neil Walker in a trade, and agreed to terms with veteran infielder Asdrubal Cabrera during the four-day event, which concluded Thursday morning. The infielder is guaranteed to receive $18.5 million over two years.

The team departed the Winter Meetings having worked on the second question more than the first, and odds are we’ll be saying the same thing when the Mets play ball at Kauffman Stadium on April 3. The Pittsburgh native drew interest from the Mets when they struck out on signing Ben Zobrist. But on Tuesday, the All-Star chose the Cubs. He will hit free agency after next season. A Silver Slugger victor in 2014, Walker batted.

Niese, 29, was made expendable due to the emergence of young starters Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz for the Mets.

Jon Niese is coming off a 9-10 season, where he posted a 4.13 ERA. On the other hand, the move provides some much-needed depth and the Mets still have the resources they need to pursue bullpen help and a left-handed center fielder.

Walker, a switch-hitter, gives the Mets a proven second baseman to offset the loss of Daniel Murphy, and Cabrera figures to be the starting shortstop and can be counted on for double-digit homers. 265 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs last season for Tampa Bay. Cabrera did not come cheap though, he will be getting paid very well, almost $9 million a season. The Pirates also have Alen Hanson, a touted 23-year-old prospect who spent last season with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Walker was selected by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2004 draft.

The Yankees dealt Wilson, a 28-year-old lefty, to Detroit for minor league right-handers Chad Green and Luis Cessa – the latter sent by the Mets to the Tigers in the July 31 trade that brought Yoenis Cespedes to NY. He has a 61-61 career record with a 3.91 ERA. “It’s more likely than not, because of the high (price) tags I’ve put out there, that we will have the same dynamic duo at the back end”. He became one of the most popular players in franchise history, arguably on par with another slugging second baseman – World Series hero Bill Mazeroski, who often tutored Walker during spring training.

Walker’s father, Tom, says his son will continue to make his home in Pittsburgh despite the trade, as both Walker and his wife originally hail from Pennsylvania. We will be forever appreciative of Neil and all he’s done for Pittsburgh, and all he’s done for Pittsburgh Pirates baseball.