Sandy Alderson has met with Neil Walker’s agent, and it might be about an extension

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson held a meeting with Neil Walker’s agent yesterday and could be talking with the second baseman himself in the near future. James Wagner of the New York Times speculates that the meetings are regarding an extension for Walker, who has been with New York since the team traded Jon Niese for him before the 2016 season.

Walker was only supposed to spend one year with the Mets, since that was what was left on his contract when Alderson acquired him. However, after a productive 2016 in which he hit .282/.347/.476 with a career-high-matching 23 home runs, Walker signed a qualifying offer with the club this offseason.

Earlier this week, we learned that the Mets were considering an extension for Walker that could make him a Met in 2018 and beyond. That extension now seems closer to a reality with Alderson talking to the Walker camp. The general manager also recently said that New York will not be restricted financially by the controversial decision to keep Jay Bruce on the roster this winter.

That’s good, because Bruce’s presence has a lot to do with New York’s desire to retain Walker. In acquiring Bruce, the Mets traded away Dilson Herrera, who was once considered to be the franchise’s second baseman of the future.