Shortstop Jack Wilson has accepted Seattle’s two-year contract offer to remain with the Mariners through 2011.
“I didn’t accomplish what I wanted after I came to Seattle, and once the season ended, Jack (Zduriencik) and I had a mutual interest in my coming back. I’m happy to have the chance to show how I can play.”
Wilson, who turns 32 next month, played in just 31 games after being acquired from Pittsburgh in a July 29 deal that brought Ian Snell to th Mariners and sent Jeff Clement, Ronny Cedeno and minor leagues to the Pirates.
Bothered by a hamstring strain, Wilson missed most of the last month with a bruised heel.
“I know Jack was disappointed in the way he played here. This guy can play defense, he’s a premiere defensive player at a key position,” Mariners GM Zduriencik said. “It was the right thing for us at this time, and I’m delighted to have him.
A .268 career hitter, Wilson was considered one of the best defensive shortstops in the National League, and last season won the Fielding Bible Award as the best-fielding shortstop in the majors.
The two-year, $10 million deal was agreed upon in lieu of the team picking up Wilson’s one-year, $8.2 million option.
“You can’t detach from place you played so long,” Wilson said of the transition from Pittsburgh. “Mostly, it was just watching the guys play – Ichiro, Junior, Felix – I can go on and on. I was nervous because of the guys I was playing with. They’re upper-level, Hall of Fame-type players. I’d like to get used to winning.”
This is huge. I know there are those who believe we need to find a way to get Alex Rodriguez to play shortstop, but Wilson makes our pitching better. The offense will need to be upgraded from other positions. In a tight and costly pitching market, this is one move the M’s could make to upgrade their pitching, just like they did last year with Gutierrez. This is just plain smart thinking by Zduriencik.
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I totally agree with ksmyth. SS is a position (catcher being the other) where you need lock-down D and if you can find it, you sacrifice offense. Power at the corners, defense up the middle is how you build a team (if you aren’t the Yankees).
Good move.
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5 mil a year for a sub .250 hitter…………………….
repeat after me: Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
Z Knows What He’s Doing.
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I think this was perfectly timed and a great move for the Mariners. This guy is a cream of the crop defensive SS. He was the best for 2009 in all of Baseball. He is a career .268 hitter and he hit .255 in 2009. .255 puts him in the middle of all SS for batting Avg in MLB for 2009. In a nutshell- hes an avg threat at the plate with outstanding defensive skills. He WANTS to play in Seattle, and we got him for 5m/yr I think to lock him in for 2 years at 5m per is an excellent job by both Jack Z and jack W. I think it also sends a message to Felix that the Mariners are committed to fielding a winner. Sign a new contract Felix…Love having you here for the next 2 JW….
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“. . . sub .250 hitter?”
I’m glad they re-signed him. I just hope he stays healthy.
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Wilson is well worth the money. The guy IS one of the BEST fielding SS in the game, period. If you look at highlights of Pirates games last year he is in most of them. His UZR rating is fantastic and he is a team player. For those doubters, consider this, how much was Yuni making? Do you ever want to go there again? $5 million per year for two years is a “relative” steal for this guy.
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