Why Justin Wilson Might Be the Bullpen Boost the Yankees Need
Justin Wilson’s last stint in pinstripes didn’t exactly end on a high note. He was part of a 2021 trade deadline salary dump to Cincinnati, packaged alongside Luis Cessa in a move that felt more like a roster reshuffle than a long-term strategy. But baseball careers have a funny way of coming full circle, and Wilson’s resurgence with the Red Sox has quietly put him back on the radar-possibly even for a return to the Bronx.
Now 36, Wilson isn’t the flame-throwing lefty he once was, but he’s evolved into a savvy, high-whiff reliever with a deep pitch mix and the kind of late-inning experience that could stabilize a Yankees bullpen currently lacking clear answers at the top.
The Case for Wilson in the Bronx
Let’s start with the numbers: Wilson struck out 27.5% of the batters he faced last season while posting a 3.35 ERA and a 2.95 FIP over 61 appearances for Boston. That’s not just solid-it’s quietly elite, especially for a reliever who wasn’t in the closer spotlight. His 91st percentile Whiff% speaks volumes about how tough he was to square up.
The fastball still plays, riding up in the zone with late life and helping him generate a 34.6% whiff rate on that pitch alone. But what really makes Wilson intriguing is the rest of his arsenal.
He mixes in a cutter, slider, and splitter, with the slider standing out as his most effective offering in terms of limiting damage. It’s a sharp, downward-breaking pitch that tunnels well off his fastball and keeps hitters guessing.
This isn’t just about raw stuff-it’s about fit. The Yankees lost two swing-and-miss arms in Luke Weaver and Devin Williams and haven’t made a notable move to replace that production. That’s a risky bet in a division where every late-inning out could be the difference between a playoff berth and watching October from the couch.
A Bullpen in Search of Stability
Brian Cashman has pointed to last summer’s trade deadline additions as key bullpen pieces for 2026, now that they’ll be around for a full season. That’s fair-but relying solely on internal growth and hoping for bounce-backs is a dangerous game when the margins are this thin.
The Yankees bullpen, for all its upside, still feels one injury or cold streak away from being overexposed. Right now, there aren’t many names Aaron Boone can confidently hand the ball to in a tight game without crossing his fingers. Adding a veteran like Wilson into the mix-especially in a setup role between Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz-could go a long way toward changing that.
Bullpens are notoriously volatile. Just look at last year: the Yankees had a group loaded with big names and high expectations, and yet they hit turbulence at the worst possible times.
That’s the nature of relief pitching. It’s also why depth matters.
A guy like Wilson doesn’t need to be the savior-he just needs to give Boone one more trustworthy option when the game’s on the line.
Time to Push, Not Pause
This Yankees roster is built to contend. The lineup is deep, the rotation has frontline talent, and the front office has already made it clear they expect to compete for the American League crown. So why wait until July to shore up the bullpen?
There’s a window here, and it’s wide open. The team can’t afford to roll into the season hoping that a group of unproven or inconsistent arms will magically hold down the fort until reinforcements arrive. That’s not how championship teams operate.
Justin Wilson isn’t a flashy name anymore. But he’s pitching like someone who can make a real impact. He’s been through the ups and downs, knows what it takes to get outs in big moments, and has the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that plays in October.
If the Yankees are serious about making a run, this is the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that could pay off in a big way. The bullpen doesn’t need a complete overhaul-but it does need a little more certainty. And right now, Wilson looks like the kind of arm who can provide exactly that.