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.
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”.
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.
I thought he might take Vesias spot, since Vesia has options.
There is no production to replace since he wasn’t on the team.
Check out the last paragraph
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
struck out 9 in 4 spring innings. looked decent. not a huge loss.
Career ERA+ of 120, why not dip your toe in the pool? He’ll catch on somewhere, maybe even NYY or MIA? Heck, SDP?
Yes! Padres taking “scraps” from LAD. Another lefty for the pen can’t hurt with the lack of starting LHP.
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!
I’m going with Giants…
Come full circle and return to the Pirates?
Me or Wilson? =)
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.
Feels like a Yankees reunion is coming.
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.
I could see the Mets bringing him back. Lefty arms are appreciated especially if he can still get Ks.
Watch the Twins swoop in. He’s just the sort of player they love.
Let some of the injured dominoes fall, and he will find a iob.
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.
No, he would lower the average age of the Cardinals. Can’t have that.
See you in Oakland
They’re chasing Free Agents now? You got Gott.
Prob would have better than Vesia
Probably had his agent get look into other teams before he even opted out. More power to him.
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.
Could have been just the minor league contract with a spring training invitation.
Trevor stinks like blue cheese.
The Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies might be able to use these guys
Would you even recognize a clue if you were introduced to one on a blind date?
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.
Maybe he’ll take up cajun cooking or something.
Dodgers hate lefty relievers.