What It Means:

The Mets are scrambling for a backup plan after losing out on their top free agent target in Ben Zobrist. Walker would fit in nicely at second base, although Puma says the club is "skeptical a deal can come together." The Pirates are shopping Walker as his salary is expected to rise to over $10 million in his final year of arbitration. The Mets have also been connected to Asdrubal Cabrera, but it's possible they might just wind up turning second base over to Dilson Herrera.

Walker slashed .269/.328/.427 with 16 home runs last season with the Pirates, collecting 2.4 Wins Above Replacement, which ranked 10th among second basemen in 2015.