NEW YORK – Left-handed Justin Wilson returned to the New York Yankees after two seasons with the New York Mets and agreed to a contract on Monday, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Wilson joins a bullpen led by closer Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton, both left-handers. Right-handed Chad Green joins right-handed Darren O’Day, who was hired after the Yankees traded Adam Ottavino to the Boston Red Sox in a cost-cutting move.
33-year-old Wilson was 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 74 appearances with the Yankees in 2015 and then moved to the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs before spending 2019 and 2020 with the Mets.
He was 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA in 19 2/3 innings in 23 appearances last season. He struckout 23 batters and walked nine
Wilson averaged 95 mph on his fastball, throwing it a little more than in the middle of his throws. He also throws a straight cut, occasionally mixing a slider and a curveball.
Wilson is a nine-year Major League Baseball veteran who spent his first three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
His deal with the Yankees was first reported by WFAN in New York.
New York is also finalizing a minor league contract with wide receiver Robinson Chirinos, who, according to multiple reports, would report to Major League Baseball’s spring practice.
The 36-year-old split from the Texas Rangers and Mets last season, who took him on August 31. He hit .162 with one home run and seven RBI’s in 74 at-bats in 26 games.
Chirinos is also a nine-year Major League Baseball veteran who had two home runs and three RBI’s for the Houston Astros in their 2019 World Series loss against the Washington Nationals.
His best seasons were with Texas in 2018, hitting .222 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI’s, and with Houston in 2019, hitting .238 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI’s.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.