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The Dodgers, Brian Wilson and some seriously pricey insurance

Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson throws against the Cardinals on Oct. 16.
Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson throws against the Cardinals on Oct. 16.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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The expression “it’s only money” is most often uttered when referring to someone else’s bank account. When they’re your greenbacks, the control issue tends to rev up a tad.

So the Dodgers signed right-handed reliever and resident eccentric Brian Wilson for $10 million, which, you have to admit, is a pretty decent payday for someone who threw a total of 13 2/3 innings the last regular season.

But it’s not your money, at least if you don’t consider that team income is derived from tickets, parking, merchandise, cable bills, et al.

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The thing is, Wilson may well have earned a bigger contract if he had signed elsewhere as the designated closer, or if he’d been willing to shave his beard to sign with the Yankees.

Wilson will technically be a set-up man for closer Kenley Jansen, who along with Brandon League ($7.5 million) gives the Dodgers two of the more expensive set-up men in baseball history.

What with the beard and the mini beard and the tats and the fact that he used to conduct his atypical ways with the evil Giants, you may have yet to fully figure out all that is Brian Wilson. Not sure you’re supposed to, or that it can be done.

Just know he looked exceptional (0.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP) in his 18 appearances for the Dodgers last season, should provide excellent late-inning work and is great insurance should Jansen unexpectedly falter. At least as much insurance that can be counted upon based on 18 appearances.

He becomes the 10th Dodger to be paid at least $10 million next season, and again assures them of a payroll of over $200 million for 2014. But, you know, it’s only money.

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