Jack

Wilson

Wilson will start tomorrow.

Negotiations are expected to resume after the shortstop returns from the Japan trip in a couple of weeks. The Pirates already control Wilson through 2007. Giving him the multiyear deal after what could go down as his career year is a bad idea.

Although a three-year contract has been discussed, it’s expected that Wilson will get a deal worth about $8 million over two years.

Wilson is probably due $4 million in arbitration for 2005, so this would be a pretty reasonable deal for the Pirates. Even if Wilson struggled next season, he’d get another raise in arbitration as long as he stayed healthy. On the other hand, the two-year deal guarantees that he can slip and not have to worry about being non-tendered.

It was reported a week ago that the two sides were close to a two-year, $8 million contract. A three-year deal would take him all the way to free agency.

So much for that long awaited 35-homer season. Wilson will sit out the opening week of spring training games, but he expects to be fine by mid-March. He resumed taking batting practice last month.

Wilson is hitting, throwing and fielding near his Arizona home, but he is not running because of lingering weakness in his lower body and a lack of stamina. He’s still likely to be fine for the start of the season. If he doesn’t hit like he did last year, it won’t be because of the appendectomy.

We still think Jason Kendall makes a better two-hitter than Wilson, but as long as the Pirates persist, Wilson has some value hitting between Kenny Lofton and Brian Giles, freeing Kendall to drive in runs lower in the order.

Wilson is again out of the lineup for the Pirates. He could be back Friday.

Wilson will get one more year to improve his offense and show that he can be a solid everyday shortstop. If he stays at his current level, he’ll likely be replaced in 2005.