Detroit Tigers: Why A Potential Justin Wilson Trade Return Should Be Significant

Why Justin Wilson Could Have Value on the Trade Market Should Detroit Decide to Move Him

Not only does Justin Wilson throw hard and miss bats (12.5 swinging strike percentage), but he’s also controllable at a relatively inexpensive rate.

Per Spotrac, the reliever is controllable through 2018. Additionally, MLBTradeRumors projects a $2.7 million salary for the 29-year-old in 2017.

Elsewhere on the free agent market, fellow relievers like Joaquin Benoit and Marc Rzepczynski are signing deals with values that far exceed Wilson’s projected salary.

In a tweet sent out on Monday afternoon, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, “Joaquin Benoit’s one-year deal with Phillies will pay him $7.5 million, according to a source. That is what he made in 2016, too.”

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reported the specifics of Rzepczynski’s contract, tweeting on December 2^nd, “Marc Rzepczynski’s deal with #Mariners is for 2 years and $11M. He gets $5.5M each year.”

Benoit’s WAR in 2016 was 0.5. Rzepczynski’s WAR checked in at 0.4.

Justin Wilson’s WAR in 2016? 1.0.

Detroit’s setup man is without question the better reliever of the three, and given the high prices on the free agent market, teams may be willing to give up more in a trade to save money.