We got him! We got him!

We did it! We can all exhale now. A deal has been reached that the whole world was waiting for. After weeks of ups and downs in the talks, false assumptions, crazy contract disputes, he's finally here. Please welcome....

Brad Wilkerson.

Yes, THE Brad Wilkerson...

What the hell?

Let's see what our $3 Million for one year just bought us.

1. For his career, 1 Strikeout per every 3.3 AB.
2. A career .250 hitter with rare glimpses of power
3. Mediocre glove at first base

(wait, am I describing a shorter, left handed Richie Sexson?)

OK, I am being a bit rough on him. The reason we brought him in is because he can play RF pretty well. This is good news because it just about proves the Jones-Bedard deal is about to be signed, sealed, delivered.

And Brad has had some nagging injuries the last few years with the Rangers, and he claims he is as healthy as ever. So we will see. I just don't understand how he's worth $3 mill with a ton of bonuses based on plate appearances.

But I do like to give guys a chance. He seems pretty excited about a new start and about being in Seattle. He's been playing on a craptacular Ranger team, so maybe he just needs a good lineup around him for a fresh burst.

Can't argue about getting a lefty (power?) bat to get in there somewhere in that awful sexson-johjima-lopez-betancourt right-handed slew at the end of the lineup that I hated so much last year.

So we will see. Upper management must have seen something they really like about him. But if I was in there, I would have gone hard after either Trot Nixon or Corey Patterson. I love the way both of them play. I know Patterson would be hard to get, but Nixon would have been just as justified in getting a one year deal to prove himself, just as Brad did.

And following up on last night's freak-out, I apologize for getting so emotional. The same site just made me feel a billion times better this morning.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/01/31/forget-the-adam-jones-has-a-bad-hip-rumor/

So things are looking good for this deal to go through. Now let's just hope that the 5 year deal Bedard has on the table from Baltimore isn't absolutely ridiculous and ruins this whole thing for us.

Sunnier days ahead in Seattle? Let's hope.


www.thomasdiamond.com