Do the Mets fear the beard?
Apparently not.
A few weeks ago, I took a look at some of the remaining free agents to see if any would be fits for the Yankees or Mets. You may read that post here.
Brian Wilson during his time with the San Francisco Giants. The closer is currently a free agent. (Image via Wikipedia Commons)
One name I threw out there was of former San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson, who threw just two innings in 2012 before being shut down for his second Tommy John surgery.
Today, a number of major league reporters indicated that Mets GM Sandy Alderson was at a private workout with Wilson on Saturday. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale had the news first.
The Mets could certainly use the help in the bullpen, as the Mets had the second-worst bullpen ERA in the majors last year.
Frank Francisco was signed to be the Mets’ closer in 2012, but he had a 5.53 ERA in 48 appearances, with 23 saves in 42 1/3 innings. He walked 21 and struck out 47.
Right now, Francisco is still pegged to be the closer in 2013, but Wilson would be a major upgrade.
With Wilson, Francisco and Bobby Parnell at the back end of the bullpen, along with lefties Robert Carson and Josh Edgin, the Mets’ bullpen suddenly doesn’t look so bad. Still, are the Mets willing to pay enough for Wilson’s services? Is Wilson willing to go to New York?
The Mets are in a full-scale rebuilding mode, so I think it’s fairly unlikely that they would pay any sort of significant money for a closer in 2013. With the R.A. Dickey trade and the buying out of Jason Bay’s contract, the Mets have signaled that they’re waving the white flag and looking ahead to the future.
However, if Wilson just doesn’t have a market – remember, Rafael Soriano, who had a great year as Yankees closer after Mariano Rivera went down in May, is still a free agent as well – it might be a shrewd move if the price is right.
Time will tell.
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What do you think? Would Wilson be a fit in the Citi Field bullpen? Let me know on Twitter: @THR_Montgomery.
