Left-hander C.J. Wilson missed the 2016 season due to shoulder troubles, and it now sounds as if he may not return to professional baseball. The 36-year-old told Tommy Tran of ABC 30 that he’s purchased an Audi/BMW/Porsche dealership in Fresno (one of multiple dealerships that he owns) and also plans to shift his focus primarily to his auto racing career (video link).
As Wilson explains to Tran, he owns a racing team (C.J. Wilson Racing) which races Porsches in the International Motor Sports Association, and he’s looking forward to getting behind the wheel himself more often. Racing, along with baseball, has been a lifelong passion for Wilson, as he explains to Tran in the previously linked interview. Wilson didn’t expressly rule out a return to baseball, though he did suggest that his career could be over: “I’ve made all my mistakes, as a baseball player, that I’ll ever make, hopefully. So that’s good — no more home runs to give up.”
In an interview with Doug Gottlieb of CBS Radio 97.5 FM / 1240 AM (audio link, hat tip to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register), Wilson wasn’t quite as definite. “I still keep myself in shape,” said Wilson. “I’m still working out and all that stuff. I just tell everybody that I signed with C.J. Wilson Racing instead of signing with a baseball team.” Asked specifically if he would ever pitch again, he responded: “I don’t know. I mean, if the situation was right, maybe. But I think at this point, right now, I’m here at the dealership and working on racing and focused on that. The most attractive offer I had was to race this year.”
For the time being, it certainly seems that a return to pro baseball is unlikely for the longtime Rangers/Angels left-hander. Wilson said to Gottlieb that his goal is to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (an endurance racing event in France) this year.
If Wilson’s baseball career is indeed over, it’ll conclude with a 94-70 record, 52 saves, a 3.74 ERA and 1259 strikeouts over the course of 1430 1/3 regular-season innings. The left-hander made two World Series appearances with the Rangers in 2010-11 and also appeared in the playoffs with the 2014 Angels.
Should definitely try doing the WeatherTech series
C.J. Wilson Focusing On Racing Career, May Not Pitch Again
Interesting, I wonder how Arte Moreno feels about this. He paid C.J. Wilson 20 million dollars for what exactly last year? For CJ to add to his Porsche collection
That’s what Arte gets from always trying to sign ex-Rangers. There’s a reason why Texas didn’t try to outbid him for guys like Wilson
Well, the Rangers wanted Yu Darvish instead of Wilson, right?
Lame comment bud. The way he was pitching the two seasons prior, it made good sense to sign him at the time. Especially after they landed pujouls.
I dunno, maybe rehab from his surgery? He was paying Hamilton far more to play for another team. Even with CJ’s bad 2014 and missing all of 2016….he provided decent production for his overall contract.
Report: ‘Several Angels teammates’ skeptical of C.J. Wilson’s elbow injury
Well, back in 2015 Some of his teammates were not happy
Also, I thought CJ Wilson was unhappy with the Rangers for not re-signing him.
To me to pay someone 20 million and get nothing out of it is insulting.
He had fluid drained out of his elbow at least 4 times throughout the season. He said he was pushing through it the whole season and the last start he had he got rocked and said he didn’t feel he was capable of keeping the team in the ball game so he got the surgery to get the bone spurs removed.
That’s the nature of signing any pitcher (or any player) to a long-term deal. He spent the season rehabbing with the team’s medical and training staffs.
Well, that’s true, but not to make an effort to comeback on a bounc-eback contract seems wrong to me.
I have seen no where that the Angels want him back. If that’s true, he owes the Angels nothing, his contract is done
He did try to make a comeback. He started a minior league assignment and he had elbow tendinitis after two starts I believe. I know he had both shoulder and elbow tendinitis throughout the season.
Guy has earned $88 million playing baseball. I’d step away too, particularly if my arm wasn’t right.
how do you know he wasn’t trying to come back? are you also the kind that thinks they should donate a portion of there salary to charities?
Hey, if you’re done, you’re done.
It seemed as if Moreno had enough of Wilson after he spoke out about how Hamilton was treated
He has other motives.. you know, “Ashley Schaeffer, Schaeffer BMW”
I don’t think he cares. This is an owner who overpaid for pujols and signed Hamilton for all that money.
The Angels had a great formula of developing talent and competing with farm talent. They have strayed away from that, I think in part of Arte trying to keep up with the Jones(Dodgers). He hates being in the shadow of the Dodgers 6 World Series championships vs their only one.
As far as bad investments go, this is nothing for Arte. Gary Matthews Jr., josh Hamilton, and 5 more years and 140mm for a 37 year old Albert Pujols
Did not see that coming…
Does/did he have an obligation to prove he was rehabbing and trying to work his way back on the field while he was under contract? I believe Prince Fielder would be playing if his body would let him, I don’t think CJ Wilson even intended to pitch again for the Angels once his buddy was traded away
He was rehabbing and even made a few rehab starts and had elbow tendinitis.
I think you and I are the only two who remember this.
I remember him doing a throwing program, but I don’t remember him making any rehab starts. bbref.com does show 1 start in A+ in 2016. I guess I just don’t like the guy/his attitude.
Makes sense. CJ seems like the type of dude who wants to do something if he is able to give his all to it. I’m sure there are lots of guys who lose the passion to play professional ball. I wish his career would’ve gone a different direction with the Halos, but things happen. I also wondered if he would’ve been open to returning to the bullpen for a team this year. He’s passionate about racing and has opportunities there. HIs decision makes sense at this point.
Oh no what ever will CJ Wilson do without baseball?
Well, guess driving BMWs, Porsches, Audis in races as a hobby after baseball is an OK hobby………should have gone with golf Cj…….golf.
The vibration from a clunker might be physio he needs to revitalize his arm
Don’t even know if he’ll control the steering wheel
They have a Vice video on CJ about his racing and after I watched that (which Was from early 2016 before last season started) I got the impression that CJ was already moving on from baseball mentally. Definitely seemed like racing was his passion and not baseball. I actually was not surprised by this decision and didn’t necessarily expect it exactly but I can’t say I didn’t expect it at all. Anyone curious, just watch that vice video, it was almost like a foreshadow to his retirement. I was watching it thinking, how do the Angels feel about what he’s saying right now?
lol I guess the video is from 2014 but I watched it last year. Still relevant to the fact that CJ even claims then that racing is his #1 passion, not baseball
“Wilson signing on to drive full-time in the 2017 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama led many to speculate he’d thrown his last pitch in an MLB game. While speaking to KFSN-TV about his new dealerships and his race team, Wilson all but confirmed that.
“Now, (racing) is going to be a big deal,” Wilson told KFSN-TV. “I don’t have to hide it anymore. There’s no contract violations to worry about, or anything like that.”
“Left-hander C.J. Wilson missed the 2016 season due to shoulder troubles, and it now sounds as if he may not return to professional”
professional baseball right?
Kinda cool in a way to be late thirties and have a fun but probably hectic schedule of stuff to keep you busy and earning the rest of your life. Damn, more athletes need to invest in this kind of stuff and not be the guy getting homes and cars repossessed after blowing everything living like rock stars. Good for him
I sure don’t feel sorry for the stupid mistake the Angels made when they signed C. J. Wilson and Albert Pujols to ridiculous contracts after their prime. That wasn’t Wilson or Pujols fault. The massive money was offered to them and they signed financial life security contracts. Both of these players were leaving championship teams for a team that was trying to buy a championship. Yes, I loved Pujols in a Cardinal uniform. Yes, I was pissed when he left. But not pissed at Pujols. Pissed at the Angels for offering an outrageous contract to him in which he was set up to fail with the Angels fan base, year after year, as his superstar skills declined. Had the Angels not dangled that ridiculous contract, he most likely would have remained a Cardinal at an annual salary, plus incentives that would also have given him financial security, possibly another World championship for the Cardinals, and he would have broken team records of Stan Musial, making him the greatest Cardinal of all time. So….bottom line…. the Angels have ruined their championship chances for years to come by buying Wilson, Pujols
Nice comment. Why is everyone upset with this?
He is an older free agent with arm injury history. He owes no one anything.
Retire and enjoy life
Remember when the Angels signed Josh Hamilton for all that money too? Yeah we won’t go there
Lets see.. as an angel pujols delivered about a ~14.5 WAR, ~800 ops, ~30 hrs and ~100 rbis per season.. sounds like your hurt runs deep
Damn he totally bailed on Head and Shoulders deal. Lol they are the real loser in all this
Did he get hit on the head and loose all his money?
+ I hope vagisil is his sponsor too
Man…I liked CJ when he was with the Rangers, but he always came across as a huge D bag tool.
Radio Host – “So CJ, you have been in a good streak lately, last night just came up a little short. Was anything different out there or were their hitters hi just have a good night?”
CJ – “Well, yeah. They had some good hits, but I don’t worry about things like that. I just picked up my new iPad pro 256 and have been jamming on my new air pods linked to my iPhone 7 plus 256. I just saw the new Lego Batman movie in my theater room on my 240″ screen. It was pretty good. Hey guys, I gotta go. Just got my Tesla and I need to make sure I get someone to put the new personalized plates on.”
CJ retired in 2015.
He pitched in 2016 so that’s weird.
Exactly. CJ was done pitching years ago!! Milked everything he could out of it and other teams aren’t going to make the same mistake the Angels did. Plus he talked the Angels into signed Tweaker Hamilton. Wilson burned alot of bridges and lost the respect of many teammates and fans. But with what $$$ he made I’m sure he will find new friends.
Pretty sure but not certain that “most attractive offer” means “only offer”.
And I’m not sure a combined 5 WAR for a 5yr/70+ mil contract was a decent value like someone mentioned above, relative to the average cost of 1 WAR in each of the four seasons he pitched for the Angels.
I think the average Angel fan would say good riddance, and try not to break a nail while racing.
Angels fans sure know how to throw themselves a pity party
thats too bad…it could have transiitioned to the bullpen and still made a decent penny
I find it fascinating that people almost always side with the owners when it comes to contracts. The players are greedy or don’t deserve the money, they don’t try hard, etc. CJ Wilson didn’t hold a gun to anyone’s head and force them to offer him ridiculous money.
What am I reading here? CJ doesn’t owe a thing to anyone. Is Homer Bailey going to pass out peanuts when he hangs it up for an injury plagued extension because he felt bad he didn’t ever make it back from injury?
Yay! CJ is racing! A pitcher that used to be good is a car driver now…