Shortstop Jack Wilson, who was named the best fielder at his position last year by the Fielding Bible, knows the Seattle Mariners and their fans never got to see that fellow play in 2009.
After signing a two-year contract on Friday, Wilson said his ambition was to remedy that.
“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 the Mariners and sent Jeff Clement, Ronny Cedeño and minor leaguers to the Pirates.
Bothered by a hamstring strain early, Wilson missed most of the last month with a bruised heel. One man who knew Wilson’s capabilities was the man who had traded for him – Mariners general manager Zduriencik.
“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,“ Zduriencik said. “It was the right thing for us at this time, and I’m delighted to have him.”
A .268 career hitter, Wilson batted .224 in 107 at-bats with Seattle but insisted that, too, will change with time.
“Watching video of pitchers helps, but until you’ve seen them, it’s hard,” Wilson said of the transition to American League pitching. “It’s a matter of repetition, seeing guys more than once. I can adjust to the style of game, and I’m excited about it.
“There’s nothing like a rough year to push you to do more in the offseason. Maybe that’s the one positive I can take from this.”
The two-year, $10 million deal was agreed upon in lieu of the team picking up Wilson’s one-year, $8.4 million option – the final year of his contract with the Pirates.
“You can’t detach from the 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.
“I watched more than I played last year, but the first night I got here this team came from behind to beat Toronto. The aura in the stadium, it was a fun place to be. Just walking into the dugout they made it seem a fun place to be. It opened my eyes.”
Wilson’s presence should solidify the shortstop position, where he was one of six players to start games for Seattle last season.
Wilson was the second Mariner to complete a deal this week, following Ken Griffey Jr.
The team remains in negotiations with first baseman Russell Branyan, who wants a two-year contract – the team has offered one year.
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
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