Lost in the shuffle of Erik Bedard’s return and Jose Lopez getting shipped off to Colorado (more to come) was the announcement of Josh Wilson being brought back on a major league deal, for 1 year. My question is: Why?
There’s enough to like about Josh Wilson from a fan’s perspective. He’s versatile, he’s got a cute nickname, he can play all over the infield, he’s a decent defender. But sometimes all this overshadows the fact that Josh Wilson is terrible. After posting a .572 OPS last year (career .596), he’s rewarded with another deal (and an MLB deal at that) and welcomed back with open arms. He fills up a 40 man roster spot, and while it’s not guaranteed (the team can cut ties in ST for relatively cheap), it still seems irresponsible. Why now, why at all? Josh Wilson isn’t the kind of player who deserves a major league contract, he’s barely the kind of player that deserves a 40 man roster spot. Hit the jump for more.
In a season that’s clear to be rebuilding again, the Mariners just seem content with bringing back the same old trash they trotted out last year. Maybe that seems harsh, but it’s true. Contrary to what some think, finding a utility infielder isn’t difficult, and rostering one isn’t even necessary. Players like Josh Wilson can be found on minor league deals with relative ease, and many of them will be better players than Wilson. Josh Wilson just posted a -0.3 WAR season and has never posted a positive WAR – he’s worse than a replacement player. Why are the Mariners retaining him? Certainly, some of the other players available will have better upside, or at least be something different. The Rule 5 draft is a great place to start with finding a utility infielder, Brad Emaus being the name I’m most interested in – a young player in Toronto’s system with fantastic BB/K ratios and the ability to play 2B/3B. I understand the desire for organizational depth, I understand the familiarity, but I also understand that Josh Wilson is awful and doesn’t belong on a major league roster. He’s a guy you offer a minor league deal (if that) or let him walk. It seems unlikely that other teams are lining up to give Wilson a major league deal after that performance last year.
It’s a minor complaint, in the grand scheme of things. It’s not a major financial hit, it’s just one spot on the 40 man roster (not inconsequential), but it’s a move that I have a problem with. I don’t want to see Josh Wilson again in a Mariners uniform. I want to see somebody who has a real chance to break through, somebody who has a chance to make an actual impact, some new blood. Familiarity isn’t always a good thing when what’s familiar is the sick taste left in our mouths from last year.
Original Story:
http://www.proballnw.com/12-2010/mari...
