As Winter Meetings near end, second basemen are coming and going

NASHVILLE - The news of the third day of the winter meetings involves second basemen, one that's going home and another that's leaving home.

Ben Zobrist signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, partly because he wanted to be close to home and family in Eureka, Ill.

Neil Walker has no choice but to leave his family roots in Pittsburgh after the Pirates traded him to the New York Mets.

Zobrist has played in the south with Tampa Bay and on the West Coast with Oakland. He played in Kansas City and had a chance to play on the East Coast with either the Nationals or Mets.

Zobrist considered all offers, but said at a press conference that being close to home was a priority, something that was established early in the decision process.

"We didn't know if we were ever going to get the chance," Zobrist said. "We could have gone East Coast, West Coast, but I think in the end that was the one thing that motivated me the most."

He also wanted to be with his baseball family, Cubs manager Joe Maddon and coach Dave Martinez. Both go back with Zobrist to their days in Tampa Bay.

Zobrist will primarily play second base for the Cubs, but he's also the super utility guy that can play seven positions. The Cubs cleared roster space for him for trading Starlin Casto to the Yankees.

Zobrist's signing with the Cubs has an effect on the Nationals. They wanted him as their primary second baseman and backup outfielder.

Walker, who hit .269 with 14 home runs and played scrappy above-average defense for the Pirates, grew up in the Pittsburgh area and was a big Pirates fan.

He talked often about bringing a championship to his home-town team. While outfielder Andrew McCutchen was the face of the Pirates' franchise, Walker was considered the heart and soul.

Walker is eligible for free agency after the season, so getting traded wasn't a shock. He figured his days were numbered in Pittsburgh even though he wanted to stay.

"I have mixed emotions being born and raised a Pittsburgher," Walker told reporters on a conference call. "I'm dealing with all these emotions that go with having a new life."

The deal means that postseason home run-hitting hero Daniel Murphy will not be back with the Mets. In return, the Pirates got starter Jonathon Niese. The Pirates needed another starter because A.J. Burnett retired and J.A. Happ signed with Toronto.

The Pirates will move Josh Harrison to second base. Jung Ho Kang will play third with Jody Mercer at short and former National Michael Morse at first.

Niese was pitching depth for the Mets, but probably would have lost his rotation spot once Zack Wheeler comes back from Tommy John elbow surgery in July.

* When Detroit dominated the American League Central, the Tigers' biggest issue was always a thin bullpen. It cost them yearly in the postseason. Now, all that is changing under new general manager Al Avila, who acquired lefty Justin Wilson in a trade with the Yankees. Wilson is the third reliever the Tigers have acquired this offseason. He'll join Mark Lowe as a setup man in the bullpen for the new closer, Frank Rodriguez.

* Here's the best of what managers were telling the media Wednesday: Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that his new shortstop, Andrelton Simmons, acquired from Atlanta, is the best in baseball, but he's also hoping that the Angels can take advantage of his situational hitting and his decent power: "Offense is key for us. We need all nine guys contributing." ... New Marlins manager Don Mattingly says Barry Bonds will be a good batting coach because the job makes him feel like a rookie again: "That's important for a coach to come in with that attitude because it really is what the job is, especially our situation in Miami, to teach and develop," Mattingly said. ... Andy Green, the Padres' new manager, said that with his former team, the Diamondbacks, getting pitcher Zack Greinke, the National League West is becoming as strong as the American League East once was. And he joked that once the Diamondbacks cleared his salary off the books, they were able to Greinke his $200 million-plus salary. ... Pirates manager Clint Hurdle says that in spring training, he's going to stress the importance of his team getting off to a good start: "We've never had a clean April since I've been here."