Brian Wilson Unlikely To Sign Before Opening Day

Former San Francisco Giant’s closer Brian Wilson is unlikely to find a home before opening day. Still recovering from his second Tommy John elbow surgery, Wilson wants be 100 percent before he looks for a new home.

Spring training is well under way and the new baseball season begins in less than a month. Wilson is in the 11th month of a rehab program that usually takes 12. In January he held an audition for the New York Mets, but was not signed.

Brian Wilson plans to hold off any auditions at this point until he is fully recovered. CBS Sports reports that Wilson probably won’t sign a new contract until several weeks into the regular season.

Still rehabbing and unlikely to sign any time soon, this is probably not where Brian Wilson saw himself in 2013. He spent the first seven years of his career with the San Francisco Giants, recording 171 saves and a 3.21 ERA. He went to two All-Star games and saved every game of the 2010 World Series to help San Francisco win.

During the 2012 season Brian Wilson had to go on the DL to have his second Tommy John elbow surgery. He then had to watch from the bench as Sergio Romo became the Giants closer in the playoffs, and shut out the Tigers to help San Francisco win the 2012 World Series.

The Giants and Brian Wilson are unlikely to meet on common ground. Moreover, CBS Sports describes Wilson’s audition for the Mets as “underwhelming,” and overall demand for the relief pitcher is not high.

With no teams willing to take a chance on Brian Wilson’s health, he will have to wait to prove himself until he is 100 percent. In season demand for his services could be high though. Any team in the hunt could have their closer injured and want someone with previous experience. In that case Wilson would be the perfect fit.

Are you surprised Brian Wilson is unlikely to sign with a team before opening day?

[image via Eric Broder Van Dyke / Shutterstock.com]