One of the 10 players who received a qualifying offer by Monday’s deadline will interest Pirates fans because of his past with the franchise. Another will interest them because of the effect his offer will have on the team’s search for a starting pitcher.
The New York Mets extended Neil Walker the one-year, $17.2 million offer that will guarantee them a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere. The Philadelphia Phillies did the same with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, tying one of the better pitchers available in a thin starting pitching market to draft-pick compensation.
After seven years with the Pirates, who drafted him in 2004, Walker hit .