Yanks sign lefty Wilson

*Photo from Rising Apple*

   Justin Wilson is back in the New York Yankees pinstripes. The Yankees and Wilson have agreed on a one year deal, according to WFAN's Sweeny Murti. Wilson was a member of the Yankees bullpen in 2015, where he spent one season before he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. Greg Allen was DFA'd on the 40 man roster to make room for Wilson, which the Yankees have confirmed.

   Wilson will make $2.85 million this season, and there is a $2.3 million player option for the 2022 season. If Wilson doesn't exercise the option, it becomes a $7.15 million team option, with a $1.15 million buyout. If Wilson does exercise it, there is a team option for 2023 worth approximately $500,000 over the league minimum. 

   Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of adding Wilson that "I'm really excited about him. He's somebody that we early on in the wintertime identified as someone that could potentially impact our club. He was somebody that we were following all winter. We love his stuff, we like the makeup. He’s a guy that's been here, and I think he is going to be another really good complement to what we hope is a really special bullpen."

   Wilson spent the shortened 2020 season in the New York Mets bullpen, where he had a record of 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA, striking out 23 hitters in 19 2/3 innings, across 23 relief appearances for the Mets. In his 9 major league seasons, Wilson has a 32-22 record with a 3.27 ERA, throwing 429 1/3 innings across 480 relief appearances, spending time with the Yankees, Tigers, Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs.

   Yankees reliever Chad Green, who was sent to New York in the Wilson trade, said that "It’s definitely going to be a little full-circle moment when I actually do meet him, because that’s who we were traded for. I'm excited to get to know him. I hear great things about him from guys because we have a lot of guys in our clubhouse who have played with him."

   Wilson will slot in as a lefty reliever in a bullpen that includes Green, Aroldis Chapman, and Zack Britton, among other names.