Report: San Francisco Giants In Market For Closer

Sergio Romo is the San Francisco Giants' closer, but manager Bruce Bochy wants "to give him some help" in the bullpen.

The Giants were not active on Wednesday at the winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, snapping a streak of two straight days of re-signing key parts of their 2012 World Series team. But interesting reports were flying around to make up for the relatively down day on the transaction front.


Brian Wilson seems to be the prime topic swirling around the team for the time being, as the two sides have not seen eye-to-eye since the Giants did not tender his contract on Friday, but president of baseball operations Bobby Evans told CSN Bay Area's Andrew Baggarly that there is an understanding to "stay in touch."

#SFGiants VP Bobby Evans hasn't talked to Lozano group about Brian Wilson at these meetings but there is understanding to stay in touch.
— Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) December 6, 2012

Reading between the lines -- if Wilson is not receiving interest from other teams, or simply does not like the situation with the team willing to sign him, the Giants would gladly re-sign Wilson for less years, less money and a whole lot less dignity.

The San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea is reporting that Wilson has seven teams interested in Wilson, though.

In the meantime, the Giants are looking for a little insurance for their closer role, just in case Romo cannot handle the entire 162-game load of a season, which seems to be everyone's best prediction considering his height, weight, arsenal of pitches, etc.

Shea is reporting that super agent Scott Boras has had talks with Giants president Larry Baer about the team's closer role. Boras has two clients that happen to be closers -- Rafael Soriano and Jose Valverde.

Scott Boras told SF Chron he spoke with Larry Baer about #SFGiants' closer role. Boras clients: Rafael Soriano, Jose Valverde.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) December 6, 2012

Bochy said closer is Romo but plans "to give him some help" with Affeldt/Lopez/Casilla. Boras suggested a more experienced closer #SFGiants
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) December 6, 2012

Neither closer is a sure bet, by any means, but both have closer experience and the Giants simply need   insurance for Romo just in case, as well as a need for another right-handed arm in the bullpen.