Reilly
02-07-2005, 05:55 PM
Todd Helton has heard the trade rumors, but he's in no hurry to see Preston Wilson leave Colorado, the Denver Post reports. Wilson, the Rockies' clean-up hitter, represents the only proven veteran lineup protection for Helton, who walked a career-high 127 times last season as teams regularly pitched around him.
"Preston has no choice. Plain and simple, he has to have a big year," Helton told the newspaper. "We really need him."
Any deal for Wilson - the Mets recently rebuffed a Wilson-for-Mike Cameron swap - is unlikely until his value increases during the season. The market for him has been lukewarm because the center fielder has undergone multiple surgeries on his left knee and is owed $12 million in the final year of his contract.
"Preston has no choice. Plain and simple, he has to have a big year," Helton told the newspaper. "We really need him."
Any deal for Wilson - the Mets recently rebuffed a Wilson-for-Mike Cameron swap - is unlikely until his value increases during the season. The market for him has been lukewarm because the center fielder has undergone multiple surgeries on his left knee and is owed $12 million in the final year of his contract.