New Met Justin Wilson praises management's financial commitment
Cubs relief pitcher Justin Wilson delivers during a game against the Pirates on Aug. 19, 2018, in Pittsburgh. Credit: AP/Keith Srakocic
Think the Mets aren’t spending enough? Their newest acquisition, lefthanded reliever Justin Wilson, says it could be worse, much worse.
Wilson, on a conference call Monday to welcome him to the Mets on a two-year, $10-million deal, agreed with comments made by Astros righthander Justin Verlander over the weekend. Verlander said the slow free-agent market has been caused by the high number of Major League Baseball teams that aren’t trying to contend and aren’t spending at all.
“The biggest detriment to our game right now is the non-competitiveness of two-thirds of the league,” Verlander said. “I think that’s why you’re seeing free agents not get signed.”
Said Wilson: “I think for the role that I pitch in — late-in-the-game, high-leverage situations — there are only certain teams that are willing to spend money to compete. I agree with JV on some aspects on that, that there is a lot of the league that would rather make money than win, which if you’re a player isn’t very fun because we play this game to win. I don’t go into a season with any other goal than a World Series. Having two-thirds of the league not really involved in that, not trying to win a championship, does hurt free agency.”
But fear not, Mets fans. Your ownership group, led by Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz, plus new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, is in it to win it. At least that’s how Wilson sees it.
He was confident that he’d eventually get a deal and said he signed with the Mets because he considers them NL East contenders. Wilson, 31, was 4-5 with a 3.46 ERA in 71 games for the Cubs last season. He struck out 69 in 54 2⁄3 innings but had control issues (33 walks).
“I’d just like to thank the Wilpon and Katz families for bringing me on board,” he said. “The whole Mets organization and Brodie. I’m just really happy to be a Met and play for a contender.”
Van Wagenen has had a busy offseason, adding infielders Robinson Cano, Jed Lowrie and J.D. Davis, catcher Wilson Ramos, outfielder Keon Broxton and relievers Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia and now Wilson, who pitched for the Yankees in 2015.
With those additions, are the Mets contenders coming off a fourth-place finish and 77-85 record? Wilson said he thinks so and said he knows why.
“Clearly the back end of the bullpen is now in great shape,” he said. “You have a starting rotation that I’d put up against any starting rotation in the league. You’ve got the pitching point down and then offense, I think there were a few key injuries last year that having those guys back in the lineup this year will help. There’s no reason why the Mets shouldn’t contend.”
The free-agent market has been slow for the second straight offseason, with Manny Machado and Bryce Harper leading the parade of unsigned stars. The players have noticed, and it could become a deepening bone of contention between the union and MLB.
“You would think that teams that want a player would move a little faster,” Wilson said. “Clearly, there’s been ideas in the media thrown around that ownership or GMs are trying to wait to drive down value. But at the end of the day, I really think that talent pays off and if you’re a talented player, teams are going to want you.
“There’s no rush for ownership or teams, but at the end of the day, I think a lot of these players out there will get deals done. Teams are just probably being more patient, trying to find the right fit in some instances or wait players out.”
So what can the players do about it?
“That’s not really for me to decide,” Wilson said. “I will be a part of that. But at the end of the day, you want every team to want to win the World Series — and I’m not saying they don’t — but clearly there is some disconnect between teams wanting to make their top dollar and spend money to win.”
To make room for Wilson on the roster, the Mets designated infielder Gavin Cecchini for assignment. The 2012 first-round pick hit .217 in 83 big-league at-bats in 2016 and 2017.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
