Brian Wilson (Last Major League team- Los Angeles Dodgers 2014)
fter sitting out 2015 with no interest from any MLB teams, Brian Wilson is making a comeback per Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo). In a stretch from 2009-2011, Wilson was the best closer in baseball, making the phrase “Fear the Beard” actually mean something. However he then missed most of 2012 and 2013 rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery, and was then released by the Dodgers in 2014. In his last season, he played in 61 games (which was actually his most since 2010) and had a 4.66 ERA which is pretty horrendous for a relief pitcher.
Unlike with other players on this list, a loss of velocity on his pitches was not what killed Brian Wilson’s career. Actually, he stayed pretty consistent throughout his career, with his velocity staying mostly in the 93-96 range. However it was everything else that suffered. In every major stat category, he was at the worst of his career, with terrible walk and K/BB ratios.
So far though, Wilson has stayed very quiet about his comeback. This could be good for him, as added publicity is not what he needs right now. Another thing that makes him different from other players on this list: I believe that he can actually make a comeback. While you can correct and work on loss of velocity, it is extremely hard to do so with a body that has had tons of wear and tear over the years. However being a relief pitcher has limited the amount of pitches Wilson has thrown, which makes me optimistic about his arm strength, evident by the relative consistency of his fastball. All he needs to do is iron out his mechanics and mental game, and if he does that, I think that he is primed to succeed in 2016 and the years following.
Possible Landing Spots: As I previously stated I believe he can do well in the major leagues again, however I don’t think many MLB teams agree with me right now. He could go to a team with a seasoned reliever to bail him out if his comeback goes awry, so the Rockies, the Reds or the Diamondbacks seem like the best bet right now.
Next: Mark Buehrle