Remember All, Justin Wilson Was Traded Because He Was About to Get “Expensive”

The New York Yankees made a trip this winter with the Detroit Tigers that had a lot of the fan base scratching their heads a bit. The Yankees had a dominant bullpen in 2015 and that was due in large part to the threesome of Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. Betances and Miller are still donning pinstripes as we speak today but Wilson is wearing the Detroit Tigers uniform after the trade and a bit of a raise.

When asked what motivated Yankees GM Brian Cashman to make the deal that brought back prospects Luis Cessa and Chad Green the reasoning was two-sided. One side of things was that the Yankees lacked starting pitching depth in Triple-A, and both men could start the season in the RailRiders rotation, while the other side of things was that Wilson was about to get expensive through the arbitration process. Well after this week when 156 players filed for salary arbitration we are beginning to know just how expensive Wilson is going to get.

Wilson made $556K with the Yankees in 2015 and has agreed to a deal with the Detroit Tigers worth $1.525 million avoiding arbitration. Wilson is entering his age 28 season and is fresh off a season where he posted a 5-0 record with a 3.10 ERA in 74 relief appearances with the Yankees last season. Wilson’s career totals are 14-5 with a 3.03 ERA in just a shade under 200 innings.

The Yankees traded away a player who was due roughly a million dollar raise only to acquire one year (potentially more) of Aroldis Chapman. Either Cashman had to justify to Hal Steinbrenner the worth or offset the salary difference between Wilson and Chapman a bit or the New York Yankees lack not only a plan but a direction as well. Either scenario is equally as likely at this point or anyone’s guess I just hate being pissed on and being told it’s raining is all.