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Justin Wilson Opts Out Of Minors Deal With Dodgers

By Darragh McDonald | March 12, 2024 at 5:05pm CDT

Left-hander Justin Wilson has opted out of his minor league deal with the Dodgers, per MLBTR’s Steve Adams. The ACES client is once again a free agent.

Wilson, 36, signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers last month. Wilson’s official spring stat line currently includes nine strikeouts and two walks in four innings, allowing two earned runs.

Despite that fairly solid showing, he was likely going to find it tough to crack a strong bullpen for the Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts said last week that righty Daniel Hudson, also on a minor league deal, would make the team. Hudson would join a bullpen that also consists of options like Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Ryan Yarbrough, J.P. Feyereisen and others. Graterol has some hip tightness and may miss the Seoul Series but doesn’t seem in line for a lengthy absence.

It seems Wilson felt he would be better off by returning to the open market and looking for opportunities elsewhere. It wasn’t previously reported that he had an opt-out in his deal but it seems there was one there for him to use. He can market himself based on his lengthy track record, though he is coming off two mostly lost seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June of 2022, which limited him to just 3 2/3 innings that year. He signed with the Brewers for 2023 and was activated off the injured list at the end of July, but he suffered a lat strain before getting into a game and went right back on the shelf. He wasn’t able to return later in the year.

From 2012 to 2021, Wilson made 522 big league appearances with a 3.42 earned run average. He struck out 25.7% of batters faced, gave out walks at a 10.7% clip and kept 46.8% of balls in play on the ground. He racked up 18 saves and 132 holds in that time, pitching for the Pirates, Yankees, Tigers, Cubs, Mets and Reds.

Though he missed the last couple of years due to injury, he appears to be healthy now. Left-handed relief tends to always be in demand so Wilson will gauge the market and try to find the best opportunity for himself. He’ll join Brad Hand, Aaron Loup and Jarlín García as some of the southpaw relievers currently in free agency.

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Los Angeles Dodgers Transactions Justin Wilson

Angels, Mets Remain Engaged With J.D. Martinez
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Mets Among Teams Showing Interest In J.D. Davis
View Comments (33)
Post a Comment

33 Comments

  1. solaris602

    1 year ago

    Is Wilson even able to pitch these days? Seems like years since he’s pitched with any kind of effectiveness. Shouldn’t be difficult to replace his “production”.

    2
    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 year ago

      He was on a spring training invitation, which amounts to an audition. No surprise he didn’t make the team, so no production needs to be replaced.

      1
      Reply
      • Zerbs63

        1 year ago

        I thought he might take Vesias spot, since Vesia has options.

        1
        Reply
    • LordD99

      1 year ago

      There is no production to replace since he wasn’t on the team.

      2
      Reply
    • johnrealtime

      1 year ago

      Check out the last paragraph

      Reply
    • Rsox

      1 year ago

      9ks in 4 innings seems like he’s been doing alright. Its hard to judge the effectiveness of lefties out of the bullpen since the LOOGY was banned

      Reply
  2. Mojo37

    1 year ago

    struck out 9 in 4 spring innings. looked decent. not a huge loss.

    1
    Reply
  3. Gwynning

    1 year ago

    Career ERA+ of 120, why not dip your toe in the pool? He’ll catch on somewhere, maybe even NYY or MIA? Heck, SDP?

    2
    Reply
    • die defunctorum

      1 year ago

      Yes! Padres taking “scraps” from LAD. Another lefty for the pen can’t hurt with the lack of starting LHP.

      1
      Reply
      • Gwynning

        1 year ago

        Just might have lots of gas in the tank still! Give it a rip. Although, I think we might be set at 39. Add Duvall!

        1
        Reply
      • tonyinsingapore

        1 year ago

        I’m going with Giants…

        1
        Reply
    • bucsfan

      1 year ago

      Come full circle and return to the Pirates?

      4
      Reply
      • Gwynning

        1 year ago

        Me or Wilson? =)

        Reply
  4. highflyballintorightfield

    1 year ago

    I am a little surprised by this. With the Dodgers shedding LH relievers in the offseason, this looks like a good opportunity for him, and he could still wait out injuries. I hope he catches on somwhere else.

    Reply
  5. dirtbagfreitas

    1 year ago

    Feels like a Yankees reunion is coming.

    1
    Reply
    • MacGromit

      1 year ago

      I don’t want to overreact to Cionel Perez’s meh ST results but given the tale of 2 halves for him last year and the dynamic nature of relievers in general… maybe the O’s should be reaching out to Wilson’s agent to see if he’d like to make a run at making on another contender, one in Baltimore instead of LA.

      1
      Reply
  6. phenomenalajs

    1 year ago

    I could see the Mets bringing him back. Lefty arms are appreciated especially if he can still get Ks.

    Reply
  7. MonkeySpanker

    1 year ago

    Watch the Twins swoop in. He’s just the sort of player they love.

    1
    Reply
  8. EasternLeagueVeteran

    1 year ago

    Let some of the injured dominoes fall, and he will find a iob.

    Reply
  9. spudchukar

    1 year ago

    Cards might be interested. With all the concentration on fireball relievers, they are almost exclusively right-handed. Romaro was roughed up yesterday, and King having an awful Spring, a little lefty insurance might be prudent.

    Reply
    • Dotnet22

      1 year ago

      No, he would lower the average age of the Cardinals. Can’t have that.

      3
      Reply
  10. The Big Yo

    1 year ago

    See you in Oakland

    Reply
    • Gwynning

      1 year ago

      They’re chasing Free Agents now? You got Gott.

      Reply
  11. SoCalHardBall

    1 year ago

    Prob would have better than Vesia

    1
    Reply
  12. DeusSexMachina

    1 year ago

    Probably had his agent get look into other teams before he even opted out. More power to him.

    Reply
  13. Echopark

    1 year ago

    Does anybody know what his Dodgers deal was if he made the team?

    He will see if he can get an MLB contract – his agent probably has a feel already. And if he is willing to take a low salary – say 1 million, some team might bite, But look at the arms still out there – and all the teams already out of budget.

    Low risk high upside move though. No brainer, really. If he doesn’t get an MLB contract, then he’s in no worse position and probably could even go back to the Dodgers.

    If he kept it up, he’d probably have seen MLB time with the Dodgers this year.

    Frasso’s spot on the 40 is going to go to Daniel Hudson and the 40 man will be full until a 60-day IL or someone is waived – looking at you Varland.

    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 year ago

      Could have been just the minor league contract with a spring training invitation.

      Reply
  14. oldgfan

    1 year ago

    Trevor stinks like blue cheese.

    3
    Reply
  15. andrewf

    1 year ago

    The Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies might be able to use these guys

    Reply
  16. BlueSkies_LA

    1 year ago

    Would you even recognize a clue if you were introduced to one on a blind date?

    2
    Reply
  17. Compo

    1 year ago

    His career ERA might be 3.41, but there’s no consistency, and it’s not just his ERA. By any metric his career has been a massive roller coaster. Not surprising he wasn’t given a spot.

    Reply
  18. This one belongs to the Reds

    1 year ago

    Maybe he’ll take up cajun cooking or something.

    Reply
  19. Don’s Ghost

    1 year ago

    Dodgers hate lefty relievers.

    Reply

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