Billy Wagner is 7 saves shy of 400 for his career. There are many options for the lefty as he goes into this off-season.
He can retire which is one option. It doesn't make sense to me, though, that Wagner would undergo Tommy John surgery just to retire after a brief comeback with the Mets & Sox. The only way he retires is if his arm did not respond, but he was throwing 95+ will ease & regularity. I don't see retirement myself.
He can remain with the Red Sox. Maybe they promise him 10 save opportunities throughout the regular season & a set-up role the rest of the time. Maybe the Sox front office decides a lower cost option at closer is Wagner & they let Pap go elsewhere in a trade due to his large arbitration number.
Finally, he can be a closer for another team. Just in the AL East, I think Tampa Bay, Toronto & Baltimore would have interest in Wagner's services. Maybe the Mets would want him back along with several NL teams. Wagner would certainly have many suitors to give him a chance to earn #400.
The Sox have a tough decision as they may let a guy with stopper stuff go elsewhere. Unless the Sox give up on Pap from an expense side, I don't see Wagner back at Fort Myers in 2010. The most likely option is that he closes for another team.
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