Detroit Tigers: Predicting the 2018 bullpen

Alex Wilson

The Tigers’ other trade candidate, Alex Wilson, finished his third season as a member of the bullpen last year.

Wilson initially came to the Tigers along with Yoenis Cespedes for Rick Porcello. He had tossed 28.1 innings of 1.91 ERA ball for the Red Sox the previous season.

He went on to post two phenomenal years in the Detroit pen. Despite limited strikeout numbers (he has a career 5.9 K/9) Wilson has good control and manages to limit baserunners.

Unfortunately, his luck ran out last year.

Wilson had his worst season in 2017, pitching to a 4.50 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. While his strikeout and walk ratios stayed virtually the same, he suffered from a significantly higher rate of hits and home runs surrendered.

At age 31, Wilson is under team control through the 2019 season. It seems like the Tigers will hold onto him this offseason, as his trade value is pretty low after his rough 2017.

However, if Wilson is able to return to the form he showed from 2015-2016 (when he had a 2.58 ERA and a 160 ERA+ across 143 innings) he is a prime candidate to be traded at the 2018 trade deadline.

Pencil Alex Wilson in as the primary set-up man for Shane Greene next season. He has more experience in the late innings than anyone else on the roster, and lines up just behind Greene in the pecking order for saves.