Mets get Neil Walker from Pirates in trade for Niese

The National League champion New York Mets filled a key spot by obtaining second baseman Neil Walker from Pittsburgh in a trade for starting pitcher Jon Niese on Wednesday at baseball’s winter meetings.

Reports said Washington was close to an agreement with free-agent pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, a former Giants bullpen mainstay.

Free-agent reliever David Hernandez agreed to a $3.9 million, one-year contract with the Phillies.

[...] baseman Chase Utley completed his one-year deal to remain with the Dodgers.

Zack Greinke’s $206.5 million, six-year contract with Arizona includes $62.5 million in deferred salaries and an $18 million signing bonus, the Associated Press reported.

With the deferred money, the deal for the major-league ERA leader has a present-day value of $193,849,298, according to calculations by Major League Baseball.

Major League Baseball issued guidelines recommending that teams have protective netting between the dugouts for any field-level seats within 70 feet of home plate.