Betancourt for Wilson? Naw..

Just thinking off the top of my head as I write about this –

I like Geoff Baker at the Seattle Times – he’s a solid beat reporter who doesn’t fill his column with self-serving BS like we see in Pittsburgh.  Baker has evidently sniffed out some Jack Wilson-for-Yuniesky Betancourt talk in the circuit which has lit up my e-mail box today.

First the obvious, or not so obvious.  The Pirates probably don’t make this move without a) believing we need him up the middle through 2012 and then b) expecting to pay out his entire contract – about $14.35MM/4 years (assuming his signing bonus has already been paid by the M’s, or will be).  Wilson is due about $14MM/2 years if his option is picked up, so the money appears to be close with the only difference the contract time.  

But that’s three-plus years of Betancourt at short.  Do we need him there – would he be blocking anyone?  Brian Friday at 2A is probably the closest non-marginal prospect we have and we can’t expect him to contrbute until late 2010 at the earliest which is when Wilson heads to free agency if we pick up his 2010 option.  So on the surface, our next wave covers the gap and there is no reason for this trade.

That is IF we believe Brian Friday can stay healthy (back problems among other things) and IF we believe Brian Friday continues to develop as we expect and is ready by late 2010.  In late 2011 one of two guys might be ready in Cunningham or Mercer.  In other words, if Friday doesn’t make the show by 2011 for any reason, what would our options be?  The most obvious at this point is for the Pirates to resign Jack Wilson on a three-year for a couple million more than his current guaranteed money is over the two years he has right now.  That hasn’t happened and now we’re hearing footsteps that the Bucs might push him out the door.

I think that final sentence says it all.  There probably isn’t any real deal on the table here yet - this is probably nothing more than an attempt by the front office to get Wilson and his agent to back down and take on additional years at a discounted price and Wilson isn’t helping himself with his injuries and his inconsistent fielding so far this year. 

Besides, Betancourt is a tick better than Wilson offensively and while he’s struggled with his range and throwing the last two years, he’s as capable as Wilson on the diamond.  The problem is, Betancourt is coming into his prime and Wilson is exiting his (two years consistent drop).  Throw in the fact both players are head cases one way or another and you have to wonder, why would the Mariners even do this deal?

They probably don’t.  Even if Betancourt is an unhappy camper, Jack Z and his crew are new in town and you can’t believe they are going to watch Betancourt walk out the door for an often hurt and aging Wilson who barely hits for average in the NLCD.

Makes no sense.

Besides, Perry Hill might be able to work out some kinks in Betancourt’s footwork and throwing but who is going to work out the kinks in Betancourt’s head?  We already have that with Wilson. 

Let’s move on and consider this rumor nothing more than two teams trying to advance their agendas on the respective players and/or their agents.  However, if the M’s wanted switch hitting Delwyn Young so they could deal Betancourt to, oh, say the Twins or another group, then I say make the deal.

Oh wait, that’s right – we have a Nutting in charge and we want to spend money in the upcoming draft (or for Sano).  Now this makes more sense – clearing payroll AND getting rid of a cultural misfit.  Hmm.. 

Naw..

Related posts:

1. #@*%!
2. The Jack Wilson saga: Now what?
3. Are we bringing Jack Wilson back?
4. Short note – on the road
5. You make the call on Sanchez and Wilson