When it comes to what awaits, Billy Wagner knows the deal.
“I know [the Red Sox] are going to offer me arbitration and of course I’m probably going to turn it down,” said the Red Sox reliever. “I have a million people telling me why would you turn down the option, or why would you do this or that. Well, I didn’t come in this game looking for money, I was just good enough to make some. If I’m going to go chasing money… I haven’t been wise with my money to begin with.”
Wagner understands what COULD happen, but because of the 38-year-old’s focus on what is right for him and what isn’t, much of it isn’t going to take place.
The Red Sox COULD pick up Wagner’s $8 million option for 2010, but won’t per a written agreement put in place when trading for the reliever.
With the Red Sox undoubtedly set to offer Wagner arbitration in order to get the two draft picks if he signs with another team, the pitcher COULD accept the offer and be guaranteed at least $10 million for next season. (It’s a number that might be a reach otherwise considering the uncertainties that come with returning from Tommy John surgery.) But, as he noted, that isn’t likely.
He wants to close again. Simple. And with the likelihood of that happening with the Red Sox being slim to none, trading that chance for guaranteed money through arbitration is a swap Wagner is ready to make.
“Oh yeah,” he said when asked if his focus is on playing ’10 as some team’s closer. “If I pitch again that’s what I’m going to do. “
If?!
“When I sit down in the offseason and I feel like I want to give it a go, or if anybody wants to pick me up, we’ll see,” Wagner said. “But I don’t have to play next year.”
But what about the blood, sweat and tears that it took over that 11 months to get back on a major-league mound? Former Sox pitcher John Smoltz said his goal throughout the process of rehabbing his injured pitching arm was to pitch beyond just this one season. Wagner takes a bit of a different tact.
“I worked hard to come back as a commitment to (Mets owner Fred Wilpon) knowing what he’s paying me. I wasn’t just sitting around,” Wagner said. “I was doing something to get better. That plus being able to go out and play catch with my kids, that’s what motivated me.
“If something like (closing) falls into my lap I would definitely consider it. It also comes down to being home with my family and doing right by them. I’ve played long enough, whether people think my career was valuable enough to put me in the Hall of Fame, or say I could even be mentioned, that’s up to guys who may not have played or don’t know anything about baseball.”
And if the money wasn’t enough of a temptation, there is that potential trip to Cooperstown that would appear to be within striking distance of Wagner. He is currently 15 saves shy of 400 for his career, and 39 shy of tying John Franco for the most saves by any lefty in the history of the game.
All nice… but not potentially as nice as hanging with an 11-, 8-, 6- and 2-year-old back at home on a much more regular basis.
“For every person that says you should, there will be five or six that say you shouldn’t. If I base my life on everybody telling me what I need to do I would be in trouble,” Wagner said. “When do you say, ‘Hey, I’ve had a great career. I’ve done everything I could possibly do. If we win the World Series, great. If I get 400 saves, I get 400 saves.
“I’ve got a handful and they’re ready for daddy to be home and coach their teams. That 11 months I was with them, I really enjoyed my family. I could retire and enjoy it.”
As Wagner explains it, whatever resides on the horizon is “icing on the cake.” Desperation no longer enters the equation, but opportunity does. It’s a reality that has been well earned by a pitcher whose priorities outweigh any bank account.
“I guess there are a lot of things that would have to go into (coming back),” he said. “I’m not going to come out for a tryout. I’m not going
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