Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports
Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Cubs agree to deal with Justin Wilson


by - Senior Editor -

The Chicago Cubs are hoping for a huge bounce-back year from lefty reliever Justin Wilson.

Wilson was under control for 2018 at $2.7 million but the Cubs have decided agreed to pay him $4.25 million so they could avoid an arbitration case according to multiple reports. MLBTR had a projection of $4.3 million for Wilson so this is right in line with what most baseball experts were thinking on his salary for 2018.

The 5-year pro had a 3.41 ERA with 13 saves, 80 strikeouts, and 1.29 WHIP in 2017 between the Detriot Tigers and Cubs. However, with the Cubs, he was awful allowing 19 walks in only 17 2/3 innings with the North Siders and eventually was left off the NLCS roster.

Wilson was part of the trade with Alex Avila for Cubs prospects Jeimer Candelario and Isaac Paredes.

The Cubs are hopeful that he can regain his control and be a valuable setup man this season. If he can get back to his strike-throwing ways, the Cubs could salvage this one-sided trade that looks to have worked out better for the Tigers. He should be motivated to have a stellar season because he will hit free agency after this season.

For his career, he has a 3.30 ERA with 338 strikeouts and 1.24 WHIP.

Wilson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round (#144 overall) in the 2008 MLB draft.

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