Dodgers Rumors: Seattle Mariners Have Interest In Brian Wilson

Things are starting to pick up for the Los Angeles Dodgers as several teams are starting to gain interest in their long list of free agents. Gone are Skip Schumaker and Nick Punto, but there were reports the Dodgers had interest in Bronson Arroyo and Dan Haren.

Two of their most important free agents are Juan Uribe and Brian Wilson as both were major contributors to the Dodgers 2013 success. According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com, the Seattle Mariners have expressed interest in the 31-year-old reliever:

#Mariners’ search for closers includes Wilson, Balfour, sources tell me and @jonmorosi. M’s interested in both, among others.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 22, 2013

The Mariners join the Detroit Tigers as the Dodgers strongest competition to retain Wilson as he’d like to be a closer after proving himself down the stretch last season. In 18 games, Wilson was 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA as the Dodgers were the only team to take a chance on him after he underwent another Tommy John surgery.

Unlike the Dodgers, the Tigers and Mariners have openings at closer while Wilson would serve as the set-up man for Kenley Jansen in LA. There was a report that “The Beard” would be interested in coming back if he was paid as a closer, but it remains to be seen how interested he truly is.

In his latest article for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark said Wilson’s agent Dan Lozano is telling teams that Wilson wants to wait before making a decision for his future. Along with Wilson, there’s strong interest in another Dodgers free agent reliever, J.P. Howell. The Angels and Nationals have interest in the left-hander, who is seeking a three-year deal on the open market.

It’s incredible the amount of support Wilson got during his brief stint with the Dodgers as fans believe the team needs to do everything in their power in order to retain him.

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ICYMI: The Texas Rangers and Dodgers talked trade at the GM Meetings.