With left-hander Zach Britton having come off the free-agent market Saturday, Justin Wilson is arguably the most desirable southpaw reliever available. Interest in Wilson is high, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports six to seven teams are vying for him.
The Mets are the only known team who have eyed Wilson, a 31-year-old who has been largely effective since he cracked the majors with the Pirates in 2012. Also a former Yankee, Tiger and Cub, Wilson has tossed upward of 50 innings in each of his six full big league seasons, and has notched a 3.33 ERA/3.30 FIP with 9.88 K/9, 4.03 BB/9 and a 46.4 percent groundball rate. Along the way, Wilson has been useful against both left- and right-handed hitters, having held the former to a .239/.319/.345 line and the latter to an even worse mark (.210/.305/.323).
Unfortunately for Wilson, he hit the market at a somewhat inopportune time, as he wasn’t at top form over the previous two seasons. While Wilson prevented runs at a solid clip (3.43 ERA/3.51 FIP in 112 2/3 frames) and struck out hitters at an even more impressive rate (11.9 per nine), his control and groundball numbers took significant steps backward. Wilson walked 5.43 batters per nine in each of those seasons and, after generating grounders 54.9 percent of the time in 2016, fell into the mid-30s from 2017-18. Still, though, the hard-throwing Wilson has seldom been prone to the home run ball, and he has limited damaging contact by posting a double-digit infield fly percentage in each of his seasons.
Justin Wilson became Chad Green and Luis Cessa for the Yankees. Green has been really good, Cessa has been s***
Green alone was a bargain for Wilson
Justin Wilson became Fransisco Cervelli for the Pirates after the Jays decided Russel Martin was worth $82 million.
He’s also currently the most realistic Pirate free agent target for an optimistic fan. Or the most optimistic target for a realistic fan. Or both.
Sounds like he has too many suitors for that pan out, though.
Was ridiculed at the time, as Yanks not getting enough. Ultimately, chalk it up another win for Cashman, master of trades; This is why they call him “Ninja Cash”
who is they line chicken?
Justin Wilson watched his bank account rise by the latest payouts to relievers. He and his agent couldn’t be happier.
He and his agent would be a lot happier if he played better the last two years. Did you read the article or just trim it?
I was too busy checking out the large contracts given out to relievers. You probably missed that while you were fetching balls, Dog.
May as well just come out and say you can’t get your head around the whole story, so you skip to the last page.
He’s been lousy with the Cubs.
This guy’s numbers might look ok, but after watching him for 1+ seasons with the Cubs, I would never trust him with the game on the line on a regular basis..
He’s always been more of a reliable, solid arm to lengthen a team’s bullpen as opposed to a dominant back of the pen arm. He fits on any team in the league that has the 8th and 9th innings covered, I’m hoping but doubt he comes back to Pittsburgh.
No, seriously, Wilson was terrible with the Cubs. Good fastball, but no movement or command ( basically belt-high heat). Hitters love pitchers like that.
Fewer than a hit per inning as a Cub the last two years. If you said walks were the issue you’d be correct…but your guess about movement, command and belt-high fastballs is hilariously incompetent. Even for a homer Sox fan.
Stats can be deceiving, especially for relievers. Go and watch every appearance, then come back and tell me about his stats.
People always try to use the wrong numbers for bullpen effectiveness.. show me holds, show me WHIP, show me inherited runner effectiveness. I swear for the last several years, the Cubs are always up there at the top in bullpen ERA, but I can’t remember the last time they actually had a dependable bullpen. Even when they won the World Series, they were relying on guys like Edwards, Grimm, Rondon, etc for success, they were very inconsistent and you’d never know if you’d get the effective version or the erratic version. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re a reliever and you’re walking a significant amount of guys like Wilson is, I don’t want him in the bullpen, it has disaster written all over it, even if his overall numbers are padded from pitching in low-leverage spots.
And if you don’t believe me about 2016, look at who Joe Maddon trusted in the World Series – even though his bullpen was at the “top of the league in ERA” that year,” none of those guys were being used when the game was on the line.
The Cubs did not rely on Rodon. He was terrible, and barely appeared in the playoffs or regular season.
You sure about that? He was their closer before Chapman arrived.. but yea, definitely didn’t rely on him at all
Again, it’s painful obvious you have no clue what you’re talking about. You don’t watch enough baseball, kid.
Soooo by Rondon having 18 saves in 2016, the Cubs didn’t rely on him?
No, they didn’t rely on him. He didn’t have a save after July, and they tode Chapman hard in the playoffs.
A’s should be one of those teams. They need one more lefty for that great but heavy right handed bullpen. Only lefty is Buchter.
Too pricey for the A’s
Padres have Strahm Castillo Wieck. They also have Robbie Erlin who could be traded given the presence of Quantril Paddack Allen being close to MLB ready and could shift to the pen.
Suffice to say the padres have a plethora of lefties and could look to deal 1 or 2. Strahm and Castillo probably arent on the trading block but Erlin and Wieck might be.
Neuse and Mateo would be guys the padres would have the most interest in.
Yeah, that is most likely what will happen.
Agreed. Would love another lefty and this should be a guy they can afford.
Wilson is a situational lefty. He is very good against left handed batters but struggles against right handed batters. These type of lefties are much easier to find than a lefty that gets out both sides of the plate. Since the angels came out short on Britton they will end up over paying for Wilson. Yanks got the best lefty out there and now teams get to fight over the left overs.
Bring a lefty is a good thing if you throw a baseball. Yup.
Thank you Justin Wilson for bringing us chad green as He’s been an absolute beast for us ! As for Wilson he is like Robertson with the walks but walks even more guys. That’s scary in a close game. If you are going to walk that many guys you better have a 10 or higher K’s per 9
Imma be shocked if Wilson gets a AAV of 10 million or more
Even that seems extreme. I’d expect something like 2 years and $15 million.
That’s reasonable
#ywp
Yeah, I would $8-9 per year in that range.
Was not very good with the Cubs but was lights out with the Yankees. The Yankees still need a Nother arm maybe they should make an offer. Regardless what people say about HAL Steinbrenner based on the contract they gave Britain money is not an issue.
We have this kid tarpley as a lefty that will get a look this spring. Old school funky lefty with great stuff. Imma pass on Wilson
Stay away Braves.
Just an observation, Wilson might be a good fit for the Rays.
The only chance that happens is if all other teams pass…no chance…or he suddenly requires TJ surgery and then they bottom feed as usual.
After missing on Britton , angels please make a move for Wilson & Herrera
Maybe the Angels should sign. They missed out on Britton. Wilson had some good years.
I wonder what the angles offered britton
The opportunity to switch arms and become a right angle.
Gas can as a Tiger. Gas can as a Cub.
This is per the eye test. Wilson otherwise must dominate when it doesn’t matter because when it does…line drives to the gap.
Gas can batting practice you mean.
Wilson reminds of Soria. Hold your breath, if game is on line. Good stats though!
We like him for a Twin? A lot? 2/14 with team option for 3/21 and 500k buyout?
Wilson was so frustrating to watch with the Cubs, cannot be trusted in any high leverage situation, even if he comes in to get only one out he cannot even do that most of the time. Dude melts under pressure with the Cubs.
Wilson stinks who ever signs him can have him
Angels adding Wilson would be nice after giving Alvarez away for a washing machine , and maybe Bud Norris on the cheap would be nice
Sox need bullpen help and Wilson May come cheap. Maybe they’re in on him
Swoop him up Angels!
I love that the headline says 6 to 7 teams interested, but the article proceeds to tell us there is only “one known team” haha
Good point but maybe that’s just some foreshadowing on their part. Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Mets sign him to a 2 yr deal, maybe like in the $10-$14 million range. Brodie Van Wagenen really needs to add a lefty to his bullpen and we all know how aggressive he is.
A left hander who can’t through strikes is still a left hander.
Pirates could use a more proven left hander. Right now, the Pirates have 1 truly proven lefty with Vasquez, then Steven Brault and Tyler Lyons. He don’t need to be lights out dominant, but he could be a reasonably reliable lefty out of the pen.
Always liked Wilson when he was with the Bucs and wouldn’t mind seeing him return. Live arm but occasionally gets wild
At one time, thought he was more of a starter than reliever. Guess that’s the case in 90% of guys like him
“Occasionally” gets wild ? He walks 4 per 9 (for his career) which isn’t occasional lol
Hope theo stays far away from him. Hes been awful for the Cubs
Hey chisoxcity Chicago has and will always be a one baseball team city (cubs only). That’s why idiot sux fans like you spend more time watching the World Champs then Jerry’s kids. As long as your front office is run by jerry and his incompetent crew you are doomed to a life of being the red headed stepchild in a town that doesn’t want you guys. Go worry about your irrelevant team.
The team that’s won one WS in 110+ years has fans that believe they cheer for the Yankees. Priceless
No nobody said anything about being the Yankees but when the Cubs win a championship and draw 5,500,000 fans to the parade in a city of 2.7 million people I think it validates my point that your team is not wanted in OUR city. Take your 700 fans you draw each game and get out. Even ESPN didn’t recognize your existence when they listed championships in Chicago. It’s reality face it. chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-esp…
I think that the Pirates should go for Wilson but only if they do not have to overpay.He is fairly good and consistent in that you know what you are getting.He has been healthy for many years.He is not a slam dunk option by any means but still sufficient to fill the hole that the Pirates have in that he is the best out there at this point.I would not go more than about $7M per year for two years though.
Justin Wilson is going to be a Met. No doubt about it.
Btw, who ever says that Wilson sucked for the Cubs needs to do their homework. Wilson had a 2.12 ERA away from Wigley Field in ’18 and held lefties to a .190 BA with a 1.61 ERA against southpaws. That seems pretty damn good to me.
Spoken by a guy who knows his baseball and is not just a sorry low class cubs hater.