The Mets will extend Neil Walker a qualifying offer, ESPN's Adam Rubin reports.
The Mets already easily won the Walker/Jon Niese trade on performance, and it looks like they now stand to continue to gain from it even if he departs. Walker will have the option of sticking with the Mets next season and taking a $17.2 million salary. If he declines, the Mets will get a free draft pick at the end of the first round. That's a pick with considerable value. The Mets have to take somewhat of a risk to collect the pick, of course, but most players who are extended qualifying offers decline them, and Neil Walker at one year and $17.