Article: Red Sox Sign Left-Handed Reliever Justin Wilson To One-Year Deal

[Nick John]

Today, the Boston Red Sox made their first signing of this free agency period, looking to improve their options of left-handed relievers. Many hope this offseason will lead to multiple signings.

The Red Sox have signed a one-year contract with left-handed reliever Justin Wilson. While details about the contract haven’t been fully revealed yet, it is believed to be similar to his previous contract with the Cincinnati Reds: a one-year deal worth $1.5M with up to $1M in incentives.

Wilson is a 37-year-old reliever who has played for six different teams. Making his debut for the Pittsburg Pirates at 24, the former 5th-round draft pick spent parts of three seasons with the Pirates before being traded to the New York Yankees in November of 2014. Wilson would only spend a single season in the Bronx before being shipped to Detroit. Following a year and a half with the Tigers, Wilson was on the move again as part of a deal that sent Isaac Paredes and Jeimer Candelario from the Chicago Cubs back to the Tigers.

After a year and a half pitching for the Cubs, Wilson became a free agent following the 2018 season and signed with the New York Mets. He pitched for the Mets until 2021 he signed with the Yankees. He returned to the team for half a season before being shipped to Cincinnati. Since that trade, Wilson has pitched on and off for the Reds. He dealt with injuries in 2022 and 2023, which forced him to miss the entire 2023 season.

This past season, Wilson pitched the most innings in a season for him since his 2018 season, throwing a total of 46 2/3 innings across 60 games. The lefty won one game and lost 5 for the Reds while striking out 51 batters and walking 13 in those 46 2/3 innings. Though his ERA was 5.59 for the season, it was bloated by allowing eight earned runs in just six innings pitched during September. Last season, Wilson also had a walk percentage of only 6.2% while striking out batters at 24.4% and chase percentage of 33.8%.

Wilson throws four pitches, mainly relying on his four-seam fastball, slider, and cutter for 99% of his pitches last year. Rarely would Wilson throw a splitter that made up the remaining 1%. His fastball averaged 95.5mph last season and could be an interesting weapon for the veteran lefty when paired with his slider and cutter.

Wilson will look to earn a spot in Alex Cora’s bullpen during Spring Training with competition from last year’s team consisting of Cam Booser, Bailey Horn, and Brennan Bernardino, along with Chris Murphy, who looks to bounce back from missing all of last season.

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[Randy Red Sox]

the bargain hunting begins. guessing this is instead of Tanner Scott?

[Jasonbay44]

At least he’s only 38, he could still breakout! 

[Randy Red Sox]

27 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

At least he’s only 38, he could still breakout! 

5.59 era last year with a whip just under 1.5.  exciting signing

[Hugh2]

That’s it, that’s your offseason.  No other moves will be made.  Get mad, let’s get crazy

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

38 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

That’s it, that’s your offseason.  No other moves will be made.  Get mad, let’s get crazy

Depth by paper cuts.

[notin]

This is the solution for a much needed LHRP?  I can’t wait to see who the Sox add for a RH bat! I’m guessing Yan Gomes…

[moonslav59]

We now have 40 on the roster. Before we add the Rule 5 guy(s), we will need to make some trades or cuts.

When we add 2-4 more FAs or trade additions, more cuts or trades need to be made.

Let the fun begin.

[mvp 78]

12 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

the bargain hunting begins. guessing this is instead of Tanner Scott?

It's Wilson vs Bernardino vs Booser. They would still sign Scott if they could. He's a 6th/7th inning guy, not a late inning guy. 

[mvp 78]

22 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We now have 40 on the roster. Before we add the Rule 5 guy(s), we will need to make some trades or cuts.

When we add 2-4 more FAs or trade additions, more cuts or trades need to be made.

Let the fun begin.

Wikelman, Horn, Mata, Shugart, Valdez, Sogard, Gasper, Grissom are all on the DFA/trade block IMO. 

[smokedogg1982]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Wikelman, Horn, Mata, Shugart, Valdez, Sogard, Gasper, Grissom are all on the DFA/trade block IMO. 

I would keep Sogard as a utility and move hamilton 

[Hugh2]

Pete Alonso/Teoscar Hernandez/Anthony Santander (Switch hitter techincally)/Eugenio Suarez/WIlly Adames/Alex Bregman/Pete Alonso/Anthony Santander.

 

Those are the TOP RH HITTERS in free agency this year. 

Juan Soto had a higher OPS against LHP than all of them. 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, smokedogg1982 said:

I would keep Sogard as a utility and move hamilton 

I like Sogard as well. Hamilton provided a lot of value to the Sox. I think the Sox can do better than either of those guys. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Pete Alonso/Teoscar Hernandez/Anthony Santander (Switch hitter techincally)/Eugenio Suarez/WIlly Adames/Alex Bregman/Pete Alonso/Anthony Santander.

 

Those are the TOP RH HITTERS in free agency this year. 

Juan Soto had a higher OPS against LHP than all of them. 

Tyler O’Neill? 1.180 OPS vs LHP in 2024, .923 for his career.

 

Also Suarez’ option was picked up by Arizona; he’s not a free agent.  And is Santander listed twice because he’s a switch hitter?

[Hugh2]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Tyler O’Neill? 1.180 OPS vs LHP in 2024, .923 for his career.

 

Also Suarez’ option was picked up by Arizona; he’s not a free agent.  And is Santander listed twice because he’s a switch hitter?

Errors were made in this post.

the point still stands

[smokedogg1982]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I like Sogard as well. Hamilton provided a lot of value to the Sox. I think the Sox can do better than either of those guys. 

Absolutely agree with you. Sogard locks down the defense wherever they put him and I like the idea of keeping a guy like that around. He had that one silly error where he threw the ball instead of tagging the runner but other than that he was perfect at 3rd 2nd and short

[Randy Red Sox]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We now have 40 on the roster. Before we add the Rule 5 guy(s), we will need to make some trades or cuts.

When we add 2-4 more FAs or trade additions, more cuts or trades need to be made.

Let the fun begin.

you mean let the bargain hunting begin

[moonslav59]

11 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Wikelman, Horn, Mata, Shugart, Valdez, Sogard, Gasper, Grissom are all on the DFA/trade block IMO. 

Murphy could be added.

[mvp 78]

On 11/15/2024 at 7:54 PM, moonslav59 said:

Murphy could be added.

I really doubt that one unless his arm is just shot after TJS. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I really doubt that one unless his arm is just shot after TJS. 

He did look pretty good, for a while,m before surgery.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

He did look pretty good, for a while,m before surgery.

He's still young AND he's a LHP. No reason to DFA him yet. 

3.70 FIP with the old horrible pitching coach. 

87th percentile hard hit%

64th percentile GB%

73rd percentile xERA

75th percentile offspeed run value

Metrics really hate his 4 seamer. Just let Bailey work with him and see what you got. This team isn't stocked with LHP talent.

[moonslav59]

43 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He's still young AND he's a LHP. No reason to DFA him yet. 

3.70 FIP with the old horrible pitching coach. 

87th percentile hard hit%

64th percentile GB%

73rd percentile xERA

75th percentile offspeed run value

Metrics really hate his 4 seamer. Just let Bailey work with him and see what you got. This team isn't stocked with LHP talent.

H4e's like 6th on my DFA/trade list, so I doubt we get that far down. Plus, I think we will trade Abreu and or DHam, so there are 2 slots open and maybe filled by one return pitcher.

[jad]

And to think, there are still some cynics out there who think that the RS aren't all in for 2025.

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, jad said:

And to think, there are still some cynics out there who think that the RS aren't all in for 2025.

It's PR season.