Yankees trade reliever Wilson to Tigers for pitching prospects
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Pitcher Justin Wilson #41 of the New York Yankees in action against the Chicago White Sox during a MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium on September 24, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}''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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}''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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}''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.''