Yanks eye reunion with Tigers’ Wilson
According to two people briefed on the situation, the Rays are still in the hunt for Tigers lefthanded reliever Justin Wilson to the point Detroit continues to scout Tampa Bay’s minor league system.
The Yankees have shown interest in bringing Wilson back to The Bronx, but the Tigers’ asking price is very high.
The Rays’ interest in Wilson continued after they acquired lefty reliever Dan Jennings from the White Sox on Thursday for minor league first baseman Casey Gillaspie. The third place Rays, who are 1 ¹/2 games out of the second wild-card spot, also dealt for Mets first baseman Lucas Duda.
Despite the Yankees’ belief their right-handed relievers can get lefties out, they are open to the idea of reacquiring Wilson, who will turn 30 on Aug. 18, for a bullpen that was enhanced by the recent acquisitions of David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox.
Wilson, who was dealt by the Yankees to the Tigers after the 2015 season for right-handers Luis Cessa and Chad Green and won’t be a free agent until after the 2018 season, is 3-4 with a 2.75 ERA in 41 games this year. He has allowed 21 hits and fanned 55 in 39 ¹/3 innings. While he has been effective against left-handed hitters (9-for-41; .220) Wilson has been better against righties (12-for-96; .125).
Wilson, who is making $2.7 million this year, went 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 74 games for the 2015 Yankees, when he struck out 66 in 61 innings.
➤ When the Yankees leave for Cleveland following Wednesday’s matinee against the Tigers, Aaron Hicks will depart for a minor league rehab assignment, along with Tyler Austin.
Joe Girardi was unsure Thursday how many games Hicks would need to jump off the disabled list, where the switch-hitting outfielder has been since June 26 because of a strained right oblique.
Hicks beginning his rehab assignment will start the clock ticking toward a decision about who will stay and who will go in a Yankees outfield that would be overcrowded until the rosters expand on Sept. 1.
The emergence of Clint Frazier has made a fourth outfielder out of Jacoby Ellsbury and Hicks’ return would mean five bodies for four spots. Last week, general manager Brian Cashman said Frazier would be sent out to make room for Hicks, but the rookie has been a key cog in the Yankees winning six of seven. ➤ A slumping Matt Holliday wasn’t in the lineup as Girardi went with Frazier for the second time in the DH spot.
Holliday, who was in a 7-for-53 (.132) rut said since coming off the DL on June 14 (viral infection), said he felt fine and Girardi said it was “just a day’’ off, but Ellsbury’s numbers (20-for-40; .500) against Rays starter Chris Archer played a part in using Ellsbury in center and employing Frazier’s hot bat in the DH spot.
“Jacoby has had as much success off of this guy than anyone,’’ Girardi said of Ellsbury, who was in a 6for-46 (.130) slide when he doubled in a run off Archer in the second inning. “I decided to DH Clint. He has been swinging the bat pretty good.’’