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The Dodgers have come to an agreement to retain Brian Wilson on a one-year, $10 million deal for 2014 that includes a player option worth $9 million for 2015. Wilson was with the Dodgers briefly in 2013, pitching 19.2 innings (including the playoffs) after signing with the club on a $1 million deal last summer.
Brian Wilson guaranteed $19 million over two years, and can opt out of the contract after 2014. #Dodgers.10 million in 2013 and $9m option
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 5, 2013
Early results appear to show Wilson has recovered well from the Tommy John surgery he underwent at the beginning of the 2012 season. He was excellent for the Dodgers in his short stint with the team, posting a 0.66 ERA and 0.4 fWAR in just 13.2 regular season innings. He was even better in the playoffs for Los Angeles, refusing to allow a single run and putting up a 1.38 FIP (fielding-indepenedent pitching) in six appearances.
The deal is effectively a two-year pact as Wilson is almost certain to accept the $9 million dollar option for 2015. Essentially, this is the same contract joe Nathan signed with the Tigers -- barring some minor details. Not bad for a 31 year-old guy who just had some pretty crucial ligaments in his elbow knotted together through holes bored into his arm bones. Okay, Tommy John is a little more complicated than that. And several pitchers have been able to return to form in recent years, but couldn't the Dodgers have gotten a better deal?
Wilson could be a fantastic set-up man for closer Kenley Jansen, a role that he has said he's be comfortable in. Most people would be pretty comfortable if you gave them $20 million dollars. However, the Dodgers bullpen is getting pretty expensive. Not only do they have Wilson's large contract to deal with, but Brandon League is in the midst of his 4-year, $27.5 million deal, but Jansen is set to earn his first considerable raise through arbitration this offseason -- that is, unless the Dodgers decide to give him a huge payday as well. Spending money definitely isn't a bad thing, though. And this relief corps could prove that resoundingly.
