Veteran catcher Bobby Wilson has agreed to a minor league deal with the Dodgers that comes with a $1MM base salary should he make the big league roster, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Spots (via Twitter).
The 33-year-old Wilson, a client of Jet Sports, split the 2016 season between the Tigers, Rangers and Rays, batting a collective .237/.270/.355 with seven homers in 251 plate appearances. Wilson has appeared in the Majors in eight of the past nine seasons, with most of his experience coming as a backup in the Angels organization. He struggled in terms of throwing out runners last year (17 percent) but has otherwise done so at a roughly league-average rate throughout his big league career. He’s also consistently drawn average or better pitch-framing marks in throughout his Major League and minor league tenure, per Baseball Prospectus. Prior to his deal with L.A., Wilson had been connected to both the Blue Jays and the Rays.
The Dodgers are largely set at catcher in the Majors, with Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes set to split playing time behind the dish. Barnes does have experience as an infielder as well, though, and did play both second base and third base in the Majors last year, so perhaps there’s an opportunity for the Dodgers to creatively work all three onto the roster. Wilson may also simply head to Triple-A to serve as a veteran depth option, and he could conceivably land elsewhere this spring as injuries with other clubs create new opportunities.
Seven homers in 251 PA’s, average or better framing, .237 avg, that sounds like a great second backup catcher. Better than AJ Ellis at 1/4 the cost.
Scratch that… just looked at his stats…
Oddly a couple of his homers were grand slams.
And both came with Texas after Detroit traded him back to them. And both came against Detroit
I like this signing he will be good depth for them
If an injury were to happen to Gramdal or Barnes would you use Wilson before you used Kyle Farmer?
*Grandal
Probably…unless Farmer goes on a tear to start the season in the minors
Starter: top 10 catcher, probably top 5 who we stole from the Padres
Backup: guy with major OBP skills in the minors who could prolly start for some MLB teams with the worst Catcher situations. He was just held down in MiLB too long. Hes been ready.
And then Wilson and Farmer as our 3 and 4 on depth chart.
Good time to be a Dodgers fan <3
Maybe Wilson will end up as Grandal’s backup if Barnes is included in a Dozier package.
Rays need a guy like Barnes
To get Dozier.. Not a chance in hell that LAD gives up Barnes as any addition to JDL.. Any prospect they sweeten the pot with is coming from the rookie level or out of the depth trades that Friedman has been making over the past 2 yrs. .. Definitely none of their MLB ready additions in their top 50 prospects. The new FO at Twins is just trying to make a big mark in their first major deal. Not thinking that Friedman /Zaidi are going to be victims vs them. LA doesn’t even really need Dozier, they just want him as a perfect acquisition. Twinks would be smart to snatch De Leon while the snatchin’ good .lol JDL would be a stalwart in their rotation for @ decade.. and the team would hold control..