Cubs have contacted the Tigers about left-handed reliever Justin Wilson
According to a report from Jon Paul Morosi, the Cubs have talked to the Tigers about LHP Justin Wilson. The Cubs showed interest in trading for the southpaw reliever. Morosi is “unclear if there is any current momentum.”
Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have added four relievers from outside the organization since Dec. 2 in LHP Brian Duensing, RHP Wade Davis, LHP Caleb Smith and RHP Koji Uehara. While the deal with Uehara has not been announced yet, the Cubs have addressed the bullpen but may not be done.
The Tigers are looking to trade Justin Wilson, who has two years of team control left before he becomes a free agent following the 2018 season. Wilson is arbitration eligible for the second time after his first year with the Tigers.
Wilson was 4-5 with one save, a 4.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 3.18 FIP in 66 games last season. Wilson allowed 29 runs, 27 earned, on 61 hits with 17 walks and 65 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings. The Tigers acquired him from the Yankees on Dec. 9, 2015 for Luis Cessa and Chad Green.
The Pirates sent Wilson to the Bronx for Francisco Cervelli on Nov. 12, 2014. Wilson had a good seasons with the Yankees (5-0, 3.10 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 2.69 FIP in 74 games) after spending the first three years of his big league career with the Pirates.
Over three seasons with the Pirates, Wilson was 9-5 with a 2.99 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 3.45 FIP in 136 games.
Wilson is a reverse splits guy. Wilson held right-handed hitters to a .234/.299/.369 line with a .667 OPS last season while left-handers had a .772 OPS with hitting .308/.344/.429.
For his career, Justin Wilson has allowed a .618 OPS to right-handers and a .661 OPS to left-handers with a .254/.318/.343 line.
Justin Wilson is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and turned 29 in August (Aug. 18, 1987).
• Justin Wilson’s Page on Baseball-Reference