Yankees trade reliever Wilson to Tigers for pitching prospects
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A day after trading right-hander Adam Warren, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman dealt lefty Justin Wilson to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday for minor-league right-handers Luis Cessa and Chad Green.
Cashman was willing to weaken his bullpen because of a lack of depth in starting pitching at Triple-A and Double-A. Yankees starters Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and Ivan Nova all were hurt at times this year, and 2016 figures to be the first full big-league season for Luis Severino, who turns 22 in February.
After Bryan Mitchell, Cashman felt he lacked depth among his backup starters.
''We have some guys in the rotation that obviously have issues,'' Cashman said. ''It's an area I need to try to address.''
Cessa, 23, was 8-10 with a 4.52 ERA at Double-A Binghamton, Triple-A Las Vegas and Triple-A Toledo this year, striking out 119 and walking 36 in 139 1/3 innings. He was dealt from the Mets to Detroit in the July trade that brought outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to New York.
Green, 24, was 5-14 with a 3.93 ERA at Double-A Erie.
''At the very least, they're going to go in our Triple-A rotation. At the very most, they'll help us in the major leagues,'' Cashman said.
Like Warren, Wilson is eligible for salary arbitration. The 28-year-old went 5-0 this year with a 3.10 ERA in 74 appearances.
Before joining the Yankees, Wilson pitched three seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went 6-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 2013, but his ERA increased to 4.20 in 2014.
Detroit has been adding bullpen help, acquiring closer Francisco Rodriguez and signing free-agent right-hander Mark Lowe.
''Justin provides us with a power left-handed arm,'' Tigers general manager Al Avila said.
Cashman said he has a number of additional trade discussions that are ongoing. As of now, Chasen Shreve, Jacob Lindgren and James Pazos are his best left-handed set-up options for Dellin Betances and closer Andrew Miller.
''We'll enter 2016 with maybe some curiosity would be the right word, still, in some areas,'' Cashman said. ''But I got a lot more things to pursue.''
