The New York Yankees bolster their bullpen by agreeing to terms with free agent Justin Wilson.
The New York Yankees accomplished their main offseason goal of re-signing star infielder D.J. LeMahieu to a six-year contract. While the Yankees did make additions, they also made some notable subtrations. This winter, New York traded relief pitcher Adam Ottavino to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named at a later date. That void in the bullpen did not last too long.
According to Yankees beat reporter Sweeny Murti of WFAN, the Yankees have reached an agreement with left-handed relief pitcher Justin Wilson. Terms and financial details have not been determined as of this writing.
Yankees reunite with Wilson
This won’t be the first time that Wilson will pitch at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Back in 2014, New York acquired Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for catcher Francisco Cervelli. In the 2015 campaign, the left-hander (5-0) posted a 3.10 ERA and 1.131 WHIP, while striking out 66 batters over 61.0 innings of work (74 appearances).
Wilson would be traded to the Detroit Tigers at the conclusion of the season in exchange for pitchers Chad Green and Luis Cessa.
The veteran reliever won’t have to travel too far to pitch in 2021, as he spent the past two seasons with the crosstown Mets. This past campaign, Wilson posted a 3.66 ERA, a 1.373 WHIP and 23 strikeouts across19.2 frames (23 games). back in the full 162-game 2019 campaign, Wilson recorded a 2.54 ERA, 44 strikeouts and four saves in 39.0 innings (45 games).
New York will now add Wilson to a rather loaded bullpen consisting of closer Aroldis Chapman, Zach Britton, Jonathan Loaisiga and fellow offseason addition Darren O’Day. This set of relief pitchers, alongside the starting rotation of Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber, Deivi Garcia, Jameson Taillon and Luis Severino should create a lot of problems for opposing batters on paper.