SAN FRANCISCO – Brian Wilson and his overgrown black beard might be headed out of the Bay Area.

The San Francisco Giants declined to tender a one-year contract to the closer by Friday night’s deadline, making him a free agent as he recovers from a second ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow.

Wilson was the 2010 major-league saves leader with 48, but made only two appearances for the World Series champions this year after experiencing elbow trouble in April. He underwent reconstructive Tommy John surgery April 19, his second such procedure on his pitching elbow after also having it done while in college at LSU in 2003. He missed the team’s run to its second championship in three years.

Wilson, 30, would have been due to make at least $6.8 million next year under the rule limiting pay cuts to a maximum of 20 percent. By letting him go free, the Giants can sign him for a lower price, though the pitcher has apparently already hinted he will look for work elsewhere.

Wilson has spent all seven of his major-league seasons with San Francisco after the Giants selected him in the 24th round of the 2003 draft. He got the final out in Game 5 of the 2010 World Series at Texas to clinch the franchise’s first championship since moving West in 1958.

Wilson finished 6-4 with a 3.11 ERA and 36 saves in 57 appearances in 2011, but was held out down the stretch as a precaution. He had taken all the important steps in his rehab during spring training this year, so the injury caught everybody by surprise.

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Messages left for Wilson and his agent went unreturned.

San Francisco saw during the club’s latest postseason run that Sergio Romo was a reliable ninth-inning option in Wilson’s place.

General Manager Brian Sabean said how the rest of the bullpen might shape up depends on whether the Giants are able to re-sign second baseman Marco Scutaro and center fielder Angel Pagan.

METS: All-Star third baseman David Wright agreed to a $138 million, eight-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The deal, the richest in franchise history, replaces Wright’s $16 million salary for next season.

A homegrown fan favorite, Wright is the club’s career leader in several major offensive categories, including hits, RBI, runs and walks.

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TRADE: The Tampa Bay Rays traded right-handed reliever Burke Badenhop to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-league outfielder Raul Mondesi Jr.

Badenhop was 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 66 games last season. He has been a full-time reliever for the last three seasons and is 16-17 with two saves and a 4.08 ERA in his career with the Marlins and Rays.

The 20-year-old Mondesi, son of a former All-Star outfielder, hit .231 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 68 games at rookie league Helena.

MARINERS: Seattle agreed to one-year contracts with reliever Josh Kinney and newly acquired infielder Robert Andino.

CUBS: Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa reached agreement on a two-year contract for $9.5 million, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.


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