September 25th, 2013 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka The Giants have only themselves to blame for not re-signing Brian Wilson earlier this season – the same Brian Wilson who was instrumental in bringing the first-ever World Series trophy to the City by the Bay. The same Brian Wilson who once topped radar guns at 102 MPH and who saved 171 of the 238 games that he appeared in as a Giant. The same Brian Wilson who was unceremoniously kicked to the curb after the hard-throwing right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery a year ago this past April, the second in his career.
During his recovery and rehab from surgery, the 31-year-old Wilson made it very clear to Giants general manager Brian Sabean that he wanted to remain with the Giants, the team that drafted him in the 24th round of the 2003 amateur draft and the only team that he had ever played for and knew. But instead of giving Wilson a chance to prove that he could still pitch, Sabean decided to stay with Sergio Romo as his closer. Ironically, Romo and Wilson were (and still are) close friends. Even more ironic is that it was Wilson who taught Romo how the be a closer; and while Wilson may have taught Romo all that he (Romo) knows about closing, Wilson did not teach Romo all that he (Wilson) knows about closing – and the results are glaring.
In his first return to AT&T Park since joining the Dodgers, Wilson received a mix of cheers and boos – mostly cheers. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
During a recent interview, Wilson, who is arguably one of the most eccentric players the game has ever known, made it clear that he is still friends with many of his former teammates.
“I’ve always remained in contact with friends throughout baseball,” said Wilson.
But Wilson also made something else very clear while being interviewed by Comcast SportsNet after the Dodgers 2-1 win over his former team on Tuesday night, a game in which he pitched a perfect 8th inning with two strikeouts – he’s not real happy that the Giants didn’t even give him an opportunity to return.
“I can’t do anything about a team that doesn’t want me,” Wilson told CSN during a post-game interview.
With each successive outing, Wilson’s fastball velocity has been increasing. He has hit 95 MPH on several occasions and is consistently in the 93-94 MPH range – and he is throwing more of them which makes his 87-89 MPH cutter and slider far more effective. During Tuesday night’s game, Wilson struck out Gregor Blanco and Juan Perez on 94 and 95 MPH fastballs respectively.
Not only is Wilson doing an outstanding job for the Dodgers, he is getting better with each appearance. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
At the conclusion of the 2012 season, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told the media that he was very interested in bringing back free agent Brandon League, who had taken over the closer role from Kenley Jansen due to health issues. League had done exceptionally well during the final six weeks of the season, so well, in fact, that Colletti gave League an absolutely ludicrous 3-year/$22.5 million contract, which caused every Dodger beat writer and radio talk show host alive to question Colletti’s sanity. Within weeks of the opening of the 2013 season, League struggled horribly and a now healthy Jansen quickly reclaimed the closer role which he has not and most likely will not be relinquishing anytime soon. League, on the other hand, may very well be the highest paid Dodger watching his team in the playoffs from the comfort of his own living room – excluding Chad Billingsley who himself is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The point here is that Brian Wilson has not only pitched well for the Dodgers since being signed by them on July 30th, he has pitched well enough to join Clayton Kershaw as a ‘must re-sign’ player. Granted, Kershaw is still under team control through the 2014 season, but like Kershaw, Wilson needs to be at the top of Colletti’s re-signing list right now – especially since Wilson becomes a free agent at the conclusion of this season.
One thing is for certain – because of the ridiculous contract that Colletti gave League, it is safe to say that Brian Wilson will command a pretty penny and most likely a multi-year contract this off-season, which he will undoubtedly get – if not from the Dodgers, certainly from someone else – perhaps even the Giants.
Colletti better not pull a Brian Sabean here, he’d best re-sign Wilson… and soon.
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@Think_BlueLA Wilson is gone at the chance to close. He’s not sticking around to be a setup man. That’s a no brainer.
I’m in total agreement on all counts, lock them up ASAP.
I warned about Brandon League. I was in fact a scout having watched him a lot with the Jays. His 3 year contract was just not very smart. The best is yet to come – $7.5M in 2014 and 2015 with a vesting option for 2016.
No question Brian Wilson goes to playoffs and Brandon League doesn’t. Signing him seems reasonable but at what cost? He will be 32 in March. He does have a history of success that League didn’t. Four good years as a closer. His WHIP has been higher than might be expected for a closer but not this year. Three year contracts haven’t worked well. Just sayin’.
I had to know what Kuiper and Krukow thought when Wilson came into the game. So after watching Vinny call of the eighth inning, I replayed it again, this tiem listening to the Giants broadcasters.
They brought up a very good point: It’s not in Brian Wilson’s DNA to be an 8th inning setup guy. He’s a closer and so is Kenly Jansen… so now there is this connundrum. I know Evan has mentioned his theory that a team doesn’t always use their closer in the last frame of the game, depending on where the matchups lay.
Do you see the Dodgers carrying two “closers” as it were, and if so, is there going to be enough work to satisfy both players? Can a team have two closers and keep the bullpen happy, or does one player accept a reduced role?
Either way, both Kenley Jansen and Brian Wilson have proven themselves to be effective closers. Wilson’s time as a Dodger has been a great audition for all the other clubs seeking a closer… and we all know, it’s all about the money come free-agent signings. I just don’t see Wilson accepting a reduced role in the future just to stay with the Dodgers. The money might be what sends Brian Wilson east.
I’d sure like Wilson to stay though… something I sure couldn’t say about Brandon League last year at this time.
You’re right Ron, It looks like Colletti really has his work cut out for him, when it comes to Brian Wilson, because this guy looks pretty well healed from his T.J. surgery and remains one of baseballs top relievers (and closers) for that matter. The Giant announcers say they don’t think Wilson will sign with the Dodgers as long as they have Jansen, because he belongs in the closer roll.
But of course, he can still take over, if anything happens to Jansen.
@Think_BlueLA 3 year deal to come!
Brian Wilson is not yet at 100% and probably will not be until next spring (think Adam Wainwright who took almost two years to get back to where he was – and even better).
Let me ask you guys a rhetorical question: When have the Dodgers had a closer go the entire season without an injury or without struggling and losing his job to someone else? In other words, it is wise to keep a guy (or perhaps even two) who can fill in as your closer if yours gets injured or struggles. I believe that if the money is right and if it is explained to Wilson that he very well may become the Dodger closer, he might consider staying.
That being said, there is always a market for a good closer and we are clearly seeing that Brian Wilson is well on his way to again being one of the best. I do, however, think that some teams may be reluctant to sign him long-term because of his two TJ’s – but somebody will be willing to take that risk.
If I had to choose between Jansen and Wilson as “the” closer, I would choose Kenley, but if I had to choose between Belisario, League and Wilson as a set-up man / occasional closer it would be Wilson hands down.
While he is coming along so well after his TJ surgery, he is a marketable commodity again and I don’t expect him to rush into signing a contract. It will come down to length of contract and $$$$$$.
Should the Dodgers win the WS, that could make a bit of a dilemma for Wilson.
As noted, I expect Colletti to offer Wilson a deal very similar to Brandon League’s – both in years and money. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see League DFA’s by mid-season next year.