Mariners Blog

Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

November 25, 2009 at 2:22 PM

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Josh Wilson opts for free agency

Posted by Geoff Baker

Well, at least we won't have to worry about confusing the two "J. Wilson'' names on the lineup card anymore. Mariners infielder Josh Wilson (the player on the right in the photo above), outrighted to Class AAA last Friday, has declined to accept that assignment and opted instead to become a free agent.

Wilson hit .250 in 45 games for the Mariners this past season. He was primarily a backup infielder but got into far more games than expected because of injury, earning the nickname "Hack'' for his uncanny power displays and "Paper Boy'' for his youthful looks.

At age 28, he's hit only two major league home runs in his first 350 or so major league ABs before clubbing three long balls in his first few weeks with the M's. He also added eight doubles and a triple in his 128 at-bats for the Mariners. But alas, the bulk of his playing time came because of injuries to Jack Wilson (the guy on the left in the photo above). Now that his namesake has healed and signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Mariners, there is simply no room left on the big league squad. Remember, the team still has Bill Hall, Jack Hannahan and Matt Tuiasosopo, all of whom can serve as utility infielders of some sort.

And so, the Mariners took him off the 40-man roster last week and outrighted him to AAA without any team grabbing him on a waiver claim. As is his right, Wilson refused the assignment and now can try to land a deal with another club -- I'm assuming one that has fewer names than the four I just mentioned ahead of him on its major league depth chart.

Mariners Blog

Josh Wilson opts for free agency

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