The Rangers have outrighted right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen off the 40-man roster, per an announcement from executive VP of communications John Blake. Wilhelmsen declined the assignment after clearing waivers, making him a free agent.
The 32-year-old, who was acquired over the winter in the swap that sent Leonys Martin to the Mariners, has struggled badly in his first year in Texas. Over 21 1/3 innings, he has been torched for 25 earned runs on 38 hits, including seven long balls, while recording just 11 strikeouts against nine walks. Wilhelmsen’s swinging strike rate is down, but not by all that much. The real culprit is a huge amount of hard contact (39.1%).
In spite of his recent difficulties, Wilhelmsen ought to receive some attention as a free agent. He had a nice track record in Seattle, where he compiled a 2.97 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 over 312 1/3 innings from 2011 through 2015. Though his velocity is down a tick, Wilhelmsen is still averaging 94 mph with his fastball.
Notably, Wilhelmsen gave up around $1.8MM of guaranteed money to take his freedom from the organization, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News explains. He had been playing on a $3.1MM salary in his second-to-last season of arbitration eligibility.
Hooray! Finally rid of him.
That Leonys Martin trade though
Wilhelmsons the second player Texas has dfa’d in that trade isn’t he?
They cut all 3 strangely enough, although they re-signed James Jones to a minor league contract
Indeed. And there’s a chance they both end up back with the M’s. Thankfully the Rangers OF has been very productive this season anyway.
Wilhelmsen can obviously pitch and some club that uses him effectively could receive a big pre deadline boost to their bullpen .. someone like say the Mariners?
Disappointed. Wish he had accepted assignment. He’ll get his act together again and be an asset to someone.
dodgers???
The Tigers have shown interest in the past, and their bullpen can always use a fresh arm that has a high mph fastball. No harm starting him at Toledo. Lots of opportunity in Detroit.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he goes back to the Mariners.
That first place team doe
Automatic runs scored anytime he stepped on the mound. It’d be interesting to see how good the Rangers would be without him sucking up the joint all year long.
Some team is going to get a gem when they fix him … he can pitch … Someone like his old team the Mariners can help him right the ship and in turn really help their bullpen
Pirates good at fixing pitchers
Padres
I was thinking them too. The Padres do love their bullpen reclamation projects.
Braves need him and with all bullpen
Are bullpen
Come back to Seattle then we get 2 of the 3 players back from the trade. Finally a trade we can say no question we won. Nice to have Jerry making the trades and not Z. New ownership willing to sirens money to get players and a GM that had come out on the positive side of trades he had made looking good.