LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Manager David Bell of the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Relief pitcher Justin Wilson, Reds agree to 1-year contract
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Left-hander Justin Wilson has agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds after his release from a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Under the agreement, Wilson can make $1 million in performance bonuses for games pitched: $200,000 each for 40 and each additional five through 60.
Cincinnati announced the deal Friday, three days after Wilson became a free agent.
Wilson, 36, last pitched in the major leagues on April 23, 2022, for the Reds.
He had Tommy John surgery that June 3 and signed a $1 million deal with Milwaukee for 2023. Having completed his rehabilitation, he was activated for a July 28 game at Atlanta but strained a lat muscle while warming up in the bullpen during the seventh inning, ending his season.
The Brewers declined a $2.5 million option, allowing Wilson to become a free agent. He signed the minor league deal with the Dodgers on Feb. 16 and allowed one run over three spring training appearances of one inning each.
Wilson is 33-24 with a 3.41 ERA in 527 relief appearances over 11 seasons with Pittsburgh (2012-14), the New York Yankees (2015, 2021), Detroit (2016-17), the Chicago Cubs (2017-18), the New York Mets (2019-20), and the Reds (2021-22).
DJ LeMahieu (bruised foot) to miss time; Aaron Judge back Wed.
New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu will miss some time during spring training because of a “pretty significant bone bruise” in his right foot, manager Aaron Boone said Monday, while superstar slugger Aaron Judge is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday.
LeMahieu hit a foul ball off the top of his foot on Saturday, and an X-ray and CT scan came back negative for a fracture, Boone said.
“He’s still pretty sore, but moving around a lot better,” Boone said on the YES Network telecast. “I definitely think it’s going to cost him some days here.”
LeMahieu, 35, has a history of foot issues and won’t be rushed back in the 10 days before Opening Day.
Judge hasn’t taken batting practice on the infield or played since March 10 due to abdominal discomfort, mostly on the follow-through of his swings. An MRI exam on March 11 was clean, and he’s been participating in defensive workouts, cage work and lifting weight while undergoing treatment. He faced high-velocity pitching machines on Monday at the Yankees’ camp in Tampa, Fla.
“All I’ll say is we’re feeling pretty good,” Judge said Monday. “The MRIs came back clean. I think a lot of it was precautionary; no need to risk stuff in spring training. … The main goal is to be game ready for Opening Day, so we’re just going to work toward that.”
