Pirates listening on Neil Walker; Orioles have had discussions

The Pirates and Orioles discussed a trade that would have sent second baseman Neil Walker to Baltimore at last week's GM Meetings, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports.

Nothing came of the trade, with the Pirates apparently wanting more from the Orioles than they were willing to offer. 

According to Kubatko, Baltimore's hope was that the Pirates would non-tender Walker, who is projected to make $10.7 million through in 2016 via MLBTradeRumors.com. This would have made him a free agent. However, as Kubatko says, the Pirates plan on tendering Walker a contract. 

As Edurado A. Encino of the Baltimore Sun reports, talks between the two sides have been "off and on." Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says that the Pirates are fielding offers on Walker. 

A trade of Walker could come at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, which are scheduled to occur December 7-9. 

Walker, 30, hit .269/.328/.427 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs over 603 plate appearances last season. He has been the Pirates' main second baseman in each of the past three seasons, but has also appeared briefly at third earlier in his big league career. 

The Orioles appear to be set at second base with Jonathan Schoop. Walker could transition over to first base, where he has brief minor league experience, with the Orioles if a deal gets done.  

--Devan Fink

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