Former Detroit Tigers closer signs with Dodgers

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Wilson signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers after missing the entire 2023 season.

The deal, reported by Robert Murray of FanSided, includes a spring training invitation.

Wilson, 36, has played 11 seasons with Pittsburgh, New York Yankees, Detroit, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Cincinnati.

He spent the 2016 season and part of the 2017 season with the Tigers, becoming the Detroit closer before he was traded to the Cubs at the trade deadline in 2017.

The Tigers traded pitchers Luis Cessa and Chad Green to the Yankees before the 2016 season to get Wilson, who pitched in 66 games, earning one save and a 4-5 record with a 4.14 earned-run average. He struck out 65 in 58 2/3 innings.

He became Detroit’s closer in 2017, earning 13 saves in 42 appearances with a 2.68 ERA. He struck out 80 in 58 innings before he was traded to the Cubs.

Wilson has thrown just 3 2/3 innings in the past two seasons since Tommy John surgery in 2022. He only faced 13 hitters with the Reds, but he struck out seven with a fastball that hit 95 mph.

He signed with Milwaukee for the 2023 season and was called up to pitch for the Brewers. But Wilson suffered a lat strain while warming up in the bullpen and missed the rest of the season.

The Dodgers were in need of left-handed relievers after trading Victor Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson to the Yankees in the off-season.