Free the Beard?

With the emergence of Sergio Romo last year, it appears that the Giants will not offer Brian Wilson salary arbitration by the November 30th deadline and allow him to become a free agent on December 1st. His recovery from his second Tommy John surgery is said to be on track but he is not expected to be ready to start throwing until late April at the earliest. So, where ever he pitches in 2013 he won't do it until around mid-season most likely. Even if he is not offered arbitration, he could still stay in San Francisco but he would certainly have to take a significant pay cut to do so.

I was somewhat saddened to read this but I understand that it is an unfortunate part of the business of baseball. Wilson will forever have a place in the hearts of Giants fans everywhere. He is a charismatic entertainer as much as he was a dominant closer. It is sad to imagine him ever pitching against the Giants. The beard was a big part of the 2010 title. While many saw his antics as entertaining and funny, don't forget what that may have meant to a young team under the pressure cooker of the playoffs for the first time. Wilson kept so much attention on himself that others could relax.

If he leaves, I will never forget him and I hope that he gets back to what he was before he got hurt. Please, just don't do it for the Dodgers.