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          New York Mets

          After whiffing on Ben Zobrist, Mets to deal Jon Niese to Bucs for Neil Walker

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterDec 9, 2015, 09:16 PM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          The trade: The New York Mets will send left-hander Jonathon Niese to the Pittsburgh Pirates for second baseman Neil Walker.

          The reason: After striking out pursuing free agent Ben Zobrist, the Mets pivoted to Walker to upgrade the middle infield. Walker is only a year away from free agency. His salary, which may be about $10 million through the arbitration process, roughly matched the $9 million owed to Niese in 2016. Niese also had team options for 2017 and 2018.

          The impact: The Mets are looking to minimize the jolt to the offense of losing Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy, and Walker should help in that regard. It does leave the Mets one starting pitcher short until Zack Wheeler returns from Tommy John surgery in June or July. But the Mets can fill that easily until Wheeler is back by, say, re-signing Bartolo Colon or using a young pitcher such as Rafael Montero, Sean Gilmartin or Logan Verrett. The trade does close the Mets careers of two of the longest-tenured Mets, since Niese is headed to Pittsburgh and the Mets now clearly will not re-sign Murphy.