Finally, third baseman/utility man Jim Gilliam announced his retirement. Platooning with utility man Ryan Freel, Patterson began the season well. This left Kelly with backup catcher Junior Ortiz and utility man Gene Larkin. He made the All-Star team as a utility man. He was named to the SL All-Star team as a utility man. Frank the utility man; and Windy McClain, the pilot. Utility man Eric Hinske and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a one-year/$1.5 million deal. Overall, Wilkinson was a "well-traveled utility man for the Bush administration's PR team".