In October, Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila said the team would be active this offseason, and as the franchise shifts its focus, left-handed reliever Justin Wilson could be on the move.
Continue for updates.
Astros, Tigers Reportedly Discuss Wilson
Tuesday, Dec. 13
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the Houston Astros have talked with the Tigers regarding a deal for Wilson.
Cubs Show Interest in Wilson
Monday, Dec. 12
Morosi reported the Chicago Cubs have inquired about Wilson’s availability.
Wilson Is Valuable Target Despite Down 2016
Wilson is coming off a somewhat disappointing 2016 season. He finished with a 4.14 ERA and a 3.18 FIP, both of which were down from his 3.10 ERA and 2.69 FIP in 2015, per Baseball-Reference.com.
Despite that dip, MLB.com’s Jason Beck reported Dec. 6 the Tigers were receiving a lot of interest in Wilson during the winter meetings.
The 29-year-old is under team control for the next two years, which will make him an attractive option for teams hoping to strengthen their bullpens. Beck noted the St. Louis Cardinals recently signed Brett Cecil for four years and $30.5 million, so Wilson would be a nice bargain given the market for relievers.
A few signs indicate Wilson’s luck will turn around in 2017 as well.
According to FanGraphs, opposing hitters batted .340 on balls in play against Wilson, which was ninth-highest among qualified relievers. Should his BABIP fall closer to his career average of .293, per FanGraphs, his ERA will rebound.
In addition, Wilson posted career bests in strikeouts (9.97) and walks (2.61) per nine innings (not including his eight-game 2012 season), so neither his control nor his command was a problem last year.
If the Tigers want to stay competitive, trading Wilson may not be in their best interest since middle relievers can be a valuable asset for a contending team. Should Detroit’s fortunes take a tumble, though, he’d be a luxury rather than a necessity, thus making him a natural trade chip in the middle of the season.
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