Mets Morning News: Neil Walker accepts qualifying offer

Meet the Mets

Neil Walker accepted the Mets’ qualifying offer of $17.2 million and will be back with the team for 2017.

Yoenis Cespedes, to the surprise of no one, did not accept his qualifying offer.

Michael Fulmer, who was traded to the Tigers in the deal that brought Cespedes to New York, was named AL Rookie of the Year.

Around the NL East

The Braves continue to collect aged Mets pitchers. There’s no word yet on whether they’ll try to coax 46-year-old Steve Trachsel out of retirement.

Jeremy Hellickson accepted the Phillies’ qualifying offer.

The Nationals are apparently sniffing around trade possibilities for Chris Sale.

Around MLB

If you’re a reliever whose name starts with J-O-E, there’s a good chance you retired from baseball yesterday. Joe Thatcher retired at the age of 35, and Joel Hanrahan retired at the same age after failing to recover from a second Tommy John Surgery in three years. 41-year-old Joe Nathan, who pitched all of about six innings last year for the Cubs and Giants, has not yet announced his retirement.

The Dodgers’ Corey Seager was the unanimous selection for NL Rookie of the Year.

Anthony Rizzo won a Platinum Glove Award.

Yesterday at AA

Matt Varvaro had another Monday Morning Mets Mind Boggler.

David Capobianco looked back at Asdrubal Cabrera’s season.

Steve Sypa delivered an Arizona Fall League update.

This Date in Mets History

Back in 1988 Kirk Gibson won the MVP over Darryl Strawberry.