Neil Walker trade official: Milwaukee Brewers receive second baseman and cash for PTBNL

Following tonight’s game, the Brewers officially announced the trade of Neil Walker:

Earlier tonight, we noted that the Brewers were close to acquiring the second baseman from the Mets. Once the game was over, the Brewers officially announced the move, making Walker a Milwaukee Brewer.

Along with Walker, the Mets are sending along some cash to help offset Walker’s salary. Walker is due around $5 million remaining on his $17.2 million salary for 2017, though the Brewers would be well situated to take on the whole contract if they chose. In exchange, the Mets will get a PTBNL. We don’t know who that will be yet, but we can safely rule out anyone currently on the 40-man roster (since they would have to pass through waivers to be traded).

The Brewers do have to make a couple of roster moves to add Walker to the 40-man and 25-man rosters. Since the 40-man roster is full, someone will have to come off to officially add Walker. Depending on how close Chase Anderson is to returning, they could move him to the 60-day DL for now, but he wouldn’t be eligible to return then until around August 27 (originally went on DL on June 29). Bandy could also go on the 60-day DL, though that would officially end his season (players that go on the 60-day DL after August 1 cannot return that season). In terms of a DFA for a player, the most likely candidate is probably Yadiel Rivera, though they could also try to get Eric Sogard or Jonathan Villar through waivers. Villar likely wouldn’t clear, though Sogard might.

In addition, a 25-man roster move is needed to put Walker on the active roster. If Sogard or Villar is DFA’ed, that would also take care of the 25-man move. The Brewers could also send down a reliever for now to clear the space. With two off-days coming up, they can get by with a shorter bullpen. They also don’t need a fifth starter again until August 22, so sending down a starting pitcher is also an option (especially if Anderson will be ready to return by then).

We should have more information on those roster moves in the morning. Walker may be here in time for tomorrow’s game, and he’s done well at Miller Park. From Ken Rosenthal:

As a long-time Pirate, he’s had plenty of games played at Miller Park. If that production can hold up, it could help the Brewers get past these offensive problems they have had since the All-Star Break.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.