PITTSBURGH -- Jack Wilson was the Pittsburgh Pirates'
shortstop Friday night against Houston. Not even Wilson knows how
much longer he will keep the job.
Now that former Dodgers All-Star shortstop Cesar Izturis has
been reunited with his former manager, Jim Tracy, the Pirates are
expected to actively shop Wilson before the July 31 deadline for
trading without waivers. Wilson, the Pirates' shortstop since 2001,
has heard the rumors but doesn't know what to expect.
According to Tracy, Wilson will remain his starting shortstop
but, Tracy said Friday, "You have to play Cesar Izturis at some
point in time to find out where he's at."
What Wilson doesn't know is where he'll be a week from now -- in
Boston, perhaps, or with another contender who could use a former
All-Star shortstop who had 201 hits three years ago and has been in
the running for Gold Glove awards?
"It seems to be a secret. I'd like to get a little bit of
information but I haven't been successful," Wilson said. "It's a
waiting game and we'll see what happens."
With Wilson due to make about $14 million the next two seasons,
the Pirates apparently see this as an opportunity to shed all or
most of his salary and replace him with a player of comparable
ability. The Pirates could pick up Izturis' $5.85 million salary
for 2008 and save $650,000 over the $6.5 million that Wilson will
make.
"He's a very good player I highly respect, an All-Star
shortstop and a Gold Glove type guy," said Wilson, who once asked
Izturis for an autographed bat for his collection. "I'm happy to
have him here -- for however long it is."
Izturis, who at 27 is nearly three years younger than Wilson,
hit a career high .288 while playing for Tracy with Los Angeles in
2004. Izturis slipped to .257 in 2005, then was dealt to the Cubs
last year after the Dodgers acquired Rafael Furcal. Izturis (.246,
eight RBIs) became stuck on the Cubs' bench after Ryan Theriot won
the shortstop's job.
Izturis likes that he'll be playing for Tracy again, but was
surprised to land in Pittsburgh because he wasn't aware the Pirates
were interested in trading Wilson. The Cubs sent Izturis and cash
to the Pirates on Thursday for a player to be named.
"I was surprised a little bit to come over here to Pittsburgh.
I just want to play every day and help the team win," Izturis
said. "It's my first day here, and we'll see what happens down the
stretch."
Wilson might not be the only player to exit Pittsburgh over the
coming weeks as the Pirates close in on a 15th consecutive losing
season, one short of the major league record. Left-hander Damaso
Marte and right-hander Salomon Torres could be very useful bullpen
pickups for a team in contention.
Tracy would be happy to keep Wilson and Izturis, though it would
be difficult to find playing time for both. Izturis can play second
base, but he's not about to bump 2006 NL batting champion Freddy
Sanchez.
"When there are opportunities to get hold of players who are
very, very good, you jump on that and that's what we did," Tracy
said. "Now we have two of the better defensive middle infielders
in baseball. When you have resources on a club like that, you're
making strides in the right direction."