It appears that the San Francisco Giants could be without closer Brian Wilson for much if not all of the 2012 season. An MRI has already revealed structural damage to Wilson’s elbow, and now it is just a matter of how much time the right-hander will miss. This unfortunate situation prompted Bob Nightengale of USA Today to tweet that it will be “interesting” to see if San Francisco shows any interest in current Houston Astros closer Brett Myers.
As the Brandon Lyon as closer-era has came and went and with the trade of late-inning reliever Mark Melancon, the Astros entered the spring without a clear cut option for the ninth inning. Houston ultimately decided to move Myers, who had started 66 games for the Astros from in 2010-11, from starter to closer.
Myers has pitched in relief before and the Astros thought he would be more valuable to them as a closer than an inning-eating starter.
While that is the case and even though Myers now has the title ‘closer’ attached to his name, it doesn’t mean he is a better option that the late-inning arms the Giants already have in their ‘pen.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy has said that his team will go with a closer-by-committee system while Wilson is out. This committee figures to be made up of Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez and Santiago Casilla, three above average if not excellent relievers.
Though the Astros may be interested in dealing Myers, it seems as if the Giants will be able to do well enough without him.
For more on the Astros and Giants, be sure to check out Climbing Tal’s Hill and Around the Foghorn.
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