The Diamondbacks have announced a minor-league deal with righty Tom Wilhelmsen. He’ll receive an invitation to participate in MLB camp; salary provisions and other terms remain unreported.
[RELATED: Updated D-Backs Depth Chart]
Wilhelmsen, 33, represents an interesting bounceback candidate for an Arizona team that has some potential openings. He’ll surely need to earn a spot in camp, but figures to have a solid chance of cracking the Opening Day roster.
The 2016 season was a tough one for Wilhelmsen, who had been a solid late-inning option for the Mariners before being dealt last winter to the Rangers. He scuffled badly in Texas, coughing up 25 earned runs on 38 hits in his 21 1/3 innings before being cut loose.
Things did improve when Wilhelmsen landed back with the M’s. He provided 25 frames of 3.60 ERA ball with 6.1 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9. Still, even those peripherals lagged his peak efforts. While Wilhelmsen still brought his fastball at a typical ~95 mph average velocity in 2016, he allowed far more contact on pitches in the zone (91.5%) than ever before (85.2% career average) and proved highly susceptible to the long ball (20.4% HR/FB rate and 2.14 HR/9).
.
enthralling!
Haha
..
rave reviews
What was Tommy John busy
The Bar Tender!
Good luck “Tall Tom from Tucson”.
This move is just bizarre. Why would they sign him. He’ll probably just suck anyway.
It’s a minor league deal. Those are never “bizarre”. It’s called depth.
I was just bring sarcastic. I like the move actually
The Bartender had some ups and downs with the M’s but he’s a good guy and deserves a chance. Good luck Tommy!
He’ll end up back in Seattle somehow he just does. Good luck in Arizona we will see you later this year.
My tarot cards, crystal ball, and magic 8 ball are all giving me the same answer regarding Wilhelmsen’s future: DFA.