Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that the Pirates and second baseman Neil Walker have had “preliminary discussions” about a long-term contract extension.
Walker is under team control for 2015 and 2016 via arbitration, but he’s due for a raise to over $8 million and is coming off a career-year in which he hit .271 with 23 homers and an .809 OPS in 137 games at age 28.
Here’s what general manager Neal Huntington said about the potential extension talks:
We would like nothing more than to have Neil Walker end his career as a Pirate. There’s no question about that. We understand he’s a really good player, and we understand the local implications and local ties he has.
However, for now Brink says an agreement is not considered imminent.
