In case you didn’t know this before, Wednesday proved it.

There is no sentimentality in professional sports.

It’s a business. It’s all about the bottom line and that bottom line isn’t always wins and losses.

But dollars and cents.

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded away Neil Walker to the New York Mets for left-handed pitcher Jonathan Niese Wednesday.

Walker, a Pine-Richland High School graduate, was drafted by the Bucs in the first round of the 2004 draft as a catcher.

He toiled away in the minors before getting his shot in 2009 and since has been a steady contributor for a franchise on the rise.

His father, Tom, played for the Pirates and was close friends with the late Roberto Clemente.

Neil Walker was “The Pittsburgh Kid.”

Now, I guess, he’s “The Flushing Kid.”

That’s fitting because the Pirates basically flushed one of their most popular players out of town.

This had more to do about money than production.

Walker was arbitration-eligible, which is a dirty word in baseball circles.

Coming off a 16 home run year for a switch-hitting middle infielder, that meant Walker would probably be awarded in excess of $10 million for this season and then would be eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.

He hit a solid .272 with 93 home runs in a Pirate uniform.

The Pirates, with a flush system and more moves likely on the horizon, wanted nothing to do with that.

Even when it came to “The Pittsburgh Kid.”

No hometown love.

Pirates fans, obviously, are a bit at a loss today. Those No. 18 Walker jerseys will be appearing with major markdowns at local sporting goods stores.

Ones that were already purchased as Christmas presents will be returned Dec. 26.

It’s a sore subject because Pittsburgh takes care of its own.

And now Pittsburgh will have to watch one of its own don another team’s jersey next season.

Was it the right move for the Pirates to make, though?

Probably.

The system is flush with young talent and the money saved can be spent to (finally) get a competent first baseman.

The club has Jordy Mercer, the recovering Jung Ho Kang and position vagabond Josh Harrison who can all man second, third and short in varying configurations.

On a purely baseball perspective, it’s not a bad move at all.

But sentimentally, it’s a poor one for the Pirates.

That’s professional sports, though.

There is no loyalty.

Except to dollars and cents.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle