7:12pm: Walker will receive a $2MM salary on the contract, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Walker’s primary role will be platooning with Peter O’Brien at first base, president of baseball ops Mike Hill told reporters (Twitter link via Wells Dusenbery of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, but he’ll also see action at second base and third base from time to time.
5:02pm: The Marlins announced Tuesday that they’ve signed free-agent infielder Neil Walker to a one-year contract. Miami has reportedly been seeking a left-handed bat, and the switch-hitting Walker can offer additional flexibility both at the plate and in the field. It stands to reason that Walker, 33, could be slotted in at multiple infield positions or even in the corner outfield after seeing time all over the diamond in a utility role with the Yankees in 2018. He’s represented by Excel Sports Management.
Walker’s overall .219/.309/.354 slash from last season certainly doesn’t look appealing, though the veteran posted a more palatable .235/.335/.403 slash from May 1 through season’s and enjoyed a generally solid second half (.247/.346/.442). Much of his 2018 struggles were confined to a disastrous showing through the end of April (.402 OPS), and while there’s no direct evidence of causation, it’s worth noting that Walker didn’t sign with the Yankees until March 12 last year.
Walker was one of many free agents to sign after Spring Training was well underway, and it’s perhaps telling that a number of those players struggled through awful starts to the 2018 season. Lance Lynn, Logan Morrison, Alex Cobb, Greg Holland and Jonathan Lucroy were among the March signees who had underwhelming 2018 seasons — particularly early in the year.
This time around, Walker will look to rebound with the benefit of a full spring workload to ramp up for what will be his 11th Major League season. Last year’s struggles aside, Walker was one of the game’s more consistent hitters from 2010-17, as I outlined in depth at the time. If he’s able to get back to those previous levels, the Marlins will find themselves with a bargain on their hands and, quite likely, a summer trade chip.
While adding Walker makes plenty of sense for Miami, it’s nevertheless confounding that the organization elected to move on from Derek Dietrich only to sign a 33-year-old player with a similar skill set. Granted, Walker is a switch-hitter, but he’s not a massive defensive upgrade over Dietrich and for all his past success, is still four years older. The financial savings figure to be minimal, as well, as Dietrich had been projected to earn a rather modest $4.8MM salary. It’s likely that Walker’s salary will check in lower than that, of course, but going from Dietrich to Walker still seems like somewhat of a lateral move.
Ok
This was the big news of the day I guess
Poor Neil
I was coming to say the same thing. He and Castro can remissness of times when their careers mattered.
He seriously overestimated the demand for his services while with PGH. He was offered extensions but balked at what was offered. Betting he would love to turn back time and reconsider.
Betting on yourself has two outcomes. Injuries may have caught up to him and finally started affecting his performance recently
Not everyone wants to be stuck in Pittsburgh.
Walker was born and raised in Pittsburgh, drafted by his hometown team, made it through the minors in their system and spent a few years as one of the best position players on the team. Im sure he would have loved to have stayed stuck in Pittsburgh.
He is from Pittsburgh and lives there in the off season. One player that likes Pittsburgh. He did overestimate his value in going the FA route. He turned down the extension offers and forced the Pirates’ hand and they made a trade for him. Turned out they traded a player with back issues for a pitcher that ended up,with knee issues. Walker’s back issues kept up and had more injuries on top. Killed what was left of his career.
Rather be “stuck” in Pittsburgh than where he’s heading.
Though I’m from the other end of the state, I’d have no problem spending an entire career In Pittsburgh. Very passionate fan base that supports the team. Only been to PNC Park one time. Best view of downtown of all the retro-parks.. Baltimore used to be great, too, but that Hilton Hotel wiped out 60% of the view. Anyway, if Walker proves to be a valuable and versatile bench player with the Marlins, he’ll be on the move again come July.
Always liked Neil Walker and I’ll never forget his opening day Walker walk off a few years back. There was zero chance the Bucs could afford him at $14 mill 2 years ago. I’m not Neil (either of them) but I think they both made the right choice.
Yeah poor guy is getting paid millions of dollars to play a game he (presumably) loves in Miami. No state income tax, great weather and beaches. I’ll have him in mind as I light my prayer candle tonight
Wow! Neil Walker’s Yankee career, started quite anemically.
But ended strong. Good luck, hope u get traded to contender.
Did your momma teach you to punctuate like that?
i’ll always remember his walk off homer in late august. that was a lot of fun
Traded to a contender, hahahahahahahha that’s beyond laughable
Marlins contend! Yes, they do a lot! Contend for first draft pick!
Trade Castro and Realmuto so we can see good players play games that matter!
He said “hope you get traded to a contender.” Meaning he hopes the Marlins trade him at the deadline to a contender. He never implied anything about the Marlins contending.
Good for him! Good clubhouse guy for all those youngster to learn from.
Does this take the Marlins out of the Machado sweepstakes?
I hear they still have a chance.
Jetes can’t move to his left on contracts, though.
No because their gonna sign jose Reyes to play 3td and Machado is playing ss.
Youth movement??
Deadline trade bait
And an everyday starting job for him, or as close as he can get.
Neil’s BA should bounce back against NL hurlers.
I don’t really think NL hurlers are worse, just AL offenses are better, largely because of the presence of the DH.
Strange comment
Stupid comment since the 2 best pitchers (deGrom and Scherzer) are in the NL. Unless of course you meant that he played the majority of his career in the NL so he’s familiar with more pitchers, then I take it back
Even if he means that NL pitchers are worse than AL pitchers, just because NL has the two best pitchers doesnt mean that NL pitching as a whole is better than AL pitching as a whole. Nobody is facing those two pitchers every game.
Yep, and he’ll be in the NL East where the Marlins play. Walker is gonna see a lot of Scherzer, deGrom, Thor, Strasburg, Nola and all those young Brave flame throwers.
Odd landing spot but beggars can’t be choosers. What a fall from grace for him he was so good from 11-17 but he was a disaster last year after signing late and the Marlins are one of the few teams to play him everyday.
I think the Yankees were the only team to offer him a major league contract last year.
He just had a horrible first half is all it was. He actually had a .788 OPS in the 2nd half, and his 2nd half slash line was in line with his career average.
He did that when he got regular at bats. He’s not much of a bench or platoon player.
Plus, he signed so late that he really did not have a spring training. So, he was behind the pitchers until middle of August. A good guy wishing him a better season with the Marlins.
Wasnt so good in 16 or 17. Bad platoon splits. Injuries. Couldnt stay on the field.
He was worth nearly 4 wins above replacement in 2016 before missing the last five week so you are correct about the injuries but his performance was good.
Guy is hoping to bounce back enough to get traded. So are the Marlins.
For Wittgren, who gets the DFA.
Odd. Completion backwards principle?
I’ve got one name for you where this makes sense.
Mike Hill
Too bad the Giants didn’t make a run at him. He’s better than any corner outfielder we currently have on the roster.
Thats pretty bad considering he plays 2nd.
He played some OF last year
He played quite a bit of outfield last year. I see the Giants getting a Carlos Gonzalez type.
Over the past few years, the Giants may have had the worst collection of outfielders in all of baseball. The Say Hey Kid might have done better, and he’s, what, 80 years-old now! Ain’t gonna be any prettier this year.
Poor guy. Signing a minor league contract with any other team would have been better lol
While the Marlins are a Minor League Team on the field, at least Walker doesn’t have to ride the bus for pennies.
Sad to see him become a journeyman utility guy after what he was here with the Pirates. He’s on the Joe Randa career but I guess that isn’t so bad.
I feel like Walker’s production is tailing off sooner in his career than Randa’s did, and also much more quickly. I was always very against the Bucs giving Neil an extension past his age 30 because I kind of had a feeling that this would happen to him.
I think that Huntington was correct in not signing him too.If I remember correctly he wanted maybe $42M for three years.I think he got $11,17,and $5 M from the Mets and the Yankees.He was a good player but his back was his physical problem and that really affected his production in both of his Mets years.
He has been a good ML player overall and I hope that this year works out well for him.I am sure that he will help the young Marlins players.
Joe Randa is a name from the past and I more fondly remember his 1997 year when the Pirates were actually in contention until the last week of the season than his final year in 2006.
Every time I wanted him off the team last year he came up with a big hit lol
He did have that knack!
Right? It was always a “get outta here u bum u suc- *hits a double off the wall* awlright u can stay in new york for a couple more games oghkay” moment with him. but generally he was pretty awful
He’ll get to probably hit 2nd or 5th and play everyday until July. Then he’ll get 2 AB’s a week on the bench of a real team. It’s really a pretty good gig. If I was on the backside of my career, I might sign with a bad team on a one year deal every year, to try and get a ring.
Career over for Neil Walker
Well can he catch?
He started his career behind the plate in the minors. Moved to 3rd, then middle IF. Pirate fans were horrified when Huntington noted in 2009 that a Super Utility role may suit him best. Spot on analysis actually.
He used to…………..Believe he was drafted as a catcher………
If I was only 33 and healthy then I’d play for whoever wanted me. For us regular guys who love the sport but have no skills beyond the local Bars’ Softball Team suiting up for any Major League Team would be a Dream come true. Good for him.
“And and”
Solid signing
When the Marlins are making for moves than the Cubs…
The Marlins have made less moves this winter than the Cubs. The cubs did what they needed and improved their bullpen..signed daniel descalso for 2 years and 5 mil. That’s dirt cheap for a guy that can play just about every position. Their bullpen signings are under the radar. Their worst move was picking up brandon kinlzers option. If there’s one person in their bullpen I don’t just its him. Brandon morrow is better but than him healthy.
With Kintzler, it was pick up his option, or pay him the five million and release him. Might as well see if he gets some outs in Mesa.
I’d rather reject him option give him 1.5 mil and an invite to spring training. No guarantees. Hes a cancer to the dugout. Mike Rizzo is very smart to get rid of him
Cubs have to be careful how they spend unless they want to run a really high payroll in the near future. Not sure why Cubs fans were expecting a huge long term financial commitment to Harper or Machado this offseason. According to spotrac they already have a 200M plus payroll. Significant money is already going to Lester, Heyward, Darvish, Hamels, Chatwood, and Zobrist this season. They also have to account for their young core becoming more expensive through arbitration and when the time comes, resigning them. Considering the situation and the way the league is headed in general big moves from the Cubs was never a realistic expectation this offseason.
I don’t know that that is true.Next year Lesters salary goes down 5 mill and Hamels and Zobrist are no longer on contract. Chatwood is gone in 2020 so long term many of those guys are not problems
Chatwood is gonna be gone after 2019. They’ll outright release him take the 12mil hit.
With regard to the salary savings between Dietrich and Walker, a million bucks is a million bucks!
But I wouldn’t rule them out on Harper…
Who’s on first
Peter O’Brien! Uh oh….
Really glad Real Deal Neil finally signed. Having him on the team is like getting a pair of fresh slacks from your brother on Christmas. You know you’re gonna need new pants eventually, the only question now is whether he put a dead squirrel carcass in the back pocket.
Wow…why all the hate for Neil Walker. He has been a solid player and had a good career which he is in the twilight of. He is still a useful utility player.
Why is Cargo still on the market?
Because the Marlins will sign him too.
I was hoping he would have signed with the Rangers so we could have had the headline Walker Texas Ranger.
I hate that word Platoon. If the player can’t play everyday then get somebody else that can.
Casey Stengel and Earl Weaver are rolling in their graves. With 8 man bullpens and 3-4 man benches, we don’t see many old fashioned platoons anymore.
Looks like another long season for Jeter. No reliable starting pitchers; no power and a weak infield. Gonna get worse when JT Realmuto gets traded.. But, hey, the beaches are open 24/7, so lots of other stuff to do.
Top draft pick is the goal.
he’ll retire a bucco….
MLB would be better off without the Marlins organization.
So what does that say about the many many other franchises that have less championships all time and over the last 25 years?
Off move to sign Walker, but then DFA Wittgren. If we lose Wittgren, which is very likely someone would want him, wouldn’t that put the Marlins in a situation where they either have to settle with a lesser reliever to go with an older version of Dietrich, or go back and sign another comparable reliever to Wittgren, which would put the costs bask to where it would have been with just keeping the younger Dietrich along with being able to keep Wittgren.
This move of DFAing Wittgren to get Walker on the roster has the odor of Mike Hill logic.
Damn it. Not one Peter O’Brien rave review comment?
I’m not letting it die.
They’re platooning because O’Brien doesn’t get rave reviews.
Beat me to it, Pinkerton. This comment section does not draw many rave reviews for its lack of Peter O’Brien references.
kind of makes me sad, siddfinch. I hate to see the good jokes die out.
Solid signing. Low risk move for the fish.
With all the other free agents still available, this move makes very little sense for the Marlins. All this does is take playing time away from a younger player.
Wow, Marlins following Yankees ways again. Why doesn’t the Marlins main owner fire Jeter and hire Cashman?
No one fires Derek Jeter, he’s Derek Jeter!
If this MArlins rebuild lasts more than 3 years, Jeter will be forced to step aside for someone who can build a winner in less time.
When you hit .220 its pretty hard not to bounce back.
I doubt my opinion matters much but I give Peter O’Brien rave reviews!
Two people saying Jeter should be fired you do realize he was part of the group who purchased the team which makes him part owner. Also am I the only one who found it odd the Yankees never even made an offer to Walker. Offense was not that good but they valued his defense so much especially at third base. Really making me wonder if the Yankees are in on Machado a lot more than they are leading on.
they signed lemahieu and got tulo(which they got on a minor league deal)..theres no room for walker. tulo has a higher upside at a 1/4 of the cost. plus the Yankees have to be out of the machado sweepstakes.. they have potentially the same player on league minimum in andujar especially if he improves his defense his second go around..