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M's lock up Wilson through '02 season
Catcher signs for $12.9 million

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. -- Dan Wilson and his wife, Annie, moved to Seattle in 1994 during his first year as the Mariners' catcher. They came to town with no children and no long-term job security. Now they have three kids and, as of yesterday, Wilson has a new three-year, $12.9 million contract extension. Like teammate Edgar Martinez, he stayed in the place where his heart is. "This is where our roots are, where our family started, and hopefully where our family will end (up)," said Wilson. "This is home." Wilson, who had a $4.4 million option for this season, will earn a base salary of $3.8 million this year with a $600,000 signing bonus. He will earn $4.2 million in 2001 and $4.3 million in 2002. He is the third Mariner signed past next season, joining Martinez, who last month agreed to a one-year deal with an option for 2001, and pitcher Jamie Moyer, whose two-year contract begins in 2000 and includes an option for 2002. "With both of those two guys, in my opinion, it was a no-brainer," Moyer said of Wilson and Martinez. "You'd be crazy not to re-sign Edgar, just like you'd be crazy not to re-sign a catcher the quality of Dan Wilson. If you don't re-sign Dan Wilson, how would you replace him? Tommy Lampkin would fit the bill pretty well, but you'd still need another catcher. "Dan's pretty solid in all facets of the game, and he's a great person, too, so that's extra special." The tandem of Wilson and Lampkin was successful for the M's in a disappointing year. Wilson batted .265 with seven homers and 38 runs batted in, Lampkin a career-high .291 with nine homers and 34 RBIs. Both veteran catchers were praised for their handling of a pitching staff that posted an AL-low 3.98 earned run average in the second half of the season after moving to Safeco Field. "The challenge for some of these young guys is that they've been in the league for a year, and guys make adjustments," Wilson said. "Our young guys are going to have to adjust right along with them. That's what makes Jamie so good. He's able to make his adjustments as the years go on. "The league has seen it now, and the word is out -- the young staff on the Mariners is a good staff." The contract all but assures Wilson will set the Mariners' record for games caught. He has caught 704 games over six years with the M's, 94 fewer than Dave Valle. Of course, the Mariners' all-time leader in games played, Ken Griffey Jr., has requsted a trade rather than a contract extension. Like all baseball watchers in the Northwest, Wilson wonders where Griffey will end up. "As a player, you hate to lose a guy like Junior," Wilson said. "The Mariners are a family, and it's like losing a father figure. He's been the father of this family for a long time, and you'd hate to lose that. You'd have to not have a pulse to not be curious about that situation." With Wilson back for three years, there's one less curiosity in an uncertain winter.

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Tacoma fans queue for Wilson view
Catcher will rejoin Mariners tonight

TACOMA -- Women and husbands and fathers were calling the Rainiers yesterday for tickets to last night's game at Cheney Stadium against Calgary. That's not unusual, but their reason was.   Wilson   "They wanted the best view of Dan Wilson's butt they could get," said ticket manager Philip Cowan. They were undoubtedly disappointed. The Mariners' starting catcher played for the Rainiers but was not behind the plate; he batted sixth in the order as the designated hitter. "He still goes to the on-deck circle," said Cowan, who thought Wilson would be catching and sold tickets behind home plate to about 20 callers. "We had husbands calling for their wives and fathers calling for their daughters. It covered it all. One husband said, 'I'm just lucky he (Wilson) is married.'" Having fully recovered from a pulled left oblique muscle, Wilson will head to San Diego today to rejoin the Mariners after playing for the Rainiers in his second and final rehabilitation appearance in the minor leagues. "It feels good to get back playing again," said Wilson, who caught for the Everett AquaSox on Wednesday night and hit a home run. "I played six innings and felt fine," he said. "Swinging was the last step." Wilson pulled his oblique muscle, which wraps around the rib cage from back to stomach, on June 14 and has been on the disabled list since. He is expected to be activated today. "We play good defense, pitch a little bit and score just enough to beat you," Wilson said. "It's a great bunch of guys who can play. We're not the kind of team that's going to 'wow' you, but we get the job done."

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