C.J. Wilson

2013

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2012

Wilson may have cost him himself $20 million in free agency with a poor postseason, but he still landed a five-year, $77.5 million deal with the Angels in December. He built upon 2010's successful migration from the bullpen to a solid starter, showing marked improvements in K/9IP and K:BB rates, and should continue to be a solid starter with the move out of Arlington. His composite line on the road the past two seasons (210.2 IP, 158 hits, 187:91 K:BB, 2.56 ERA) suggests that his ratios will improve with half of his starts coming at Angels Stadium.

2011

Wilson's transition from occasionally effective reliever to the starting rotation was a smashing success. He posted a tidy 3.35 ERA and 1.245 WHIP, fanning 170 batters in 204 innings but was also among the league leaders in walks allowed with 93. He held opponents to a .217 average against, a number nearly unsustainable year-over-year, so expect some regression in 2011. He had a few shaky appearances late in the season and tossed another 24.1 innings in the postseason, so there's some concern as to how his arm will hold up following a huge spike in innings (73.2 in 2009, 228.1 in 2010).

2010

Wilson had a surprisingly all-around effective year, showing improved control (84:32 K:BB) in 73.2 innings. He racked up 14 saves with Frank Francisco sidelined at times by injury, but there's been increased talk of moving Wilson back into the rotation when spring begins in an attempt to find another capable starter. His numbers after the All-Star break (35 innings, 30 hits, 52:15 K:BB) reversed a recent trend of declining control. Texas' acquisition of potential lefty specialist Ben Snyder in the Rule 5 draft from the Orioles (via the Giants) could give them the necessary ammunition to return Wilson to the rotation. There are lots of moving parts involved in that scenario however, depending on one of two youngsters (Snyder or Clay Rapada, obtained from the Tigers this winter) to play a prominent role in the bullpen.

2009

Further proof of the "AnyoneCanBeACloser" theory, Wilson amassed 24 saves despite brutal peripherals (49 hits, 27 walks, eight homers, 6.02 ERA, 1.64 WHIP in 46.1 innings). You can point to his late-season elbow struggles and pretend it was the reason for the poor season, but that doesn't explain his pre-Break totals (1.57 WHIP, 5.01 ERA despite 22 saves). As a lefty who doesn't get lefties out, Texas has a bit of a problem just throwing him into a late-inning specialist role, and talks of returning him to the rotation have since died down as well. He's expected to begin the year behind Frank Francisco as Texas' closer, though Francisco's occasional injury woes should be considered if Wilson is going dirt cheap in your auctions.

2008

Wilson managed to pick up 12 saves following the trade of Eric Gagne, but struggled as the season wore on and isn't being looked at as a viable closing candidate in 2008 unless Texas comes up empty on the free agent market and Akinori Otsuka doesn't return to form. He walks too many to be an effective closer over the course of the season, and doesn't post gaudy strikeout numbers to have much value in just a set-up role.

2007

Wilson had a nice year in relief once he got on the field healthy. He excelled against lefties, holding them to a .155 average against and struck out 19 in 20.2 innings. With Ron Mahay returning, it could be another year before Wilson takes over as the shutdown lefty, but he has a future in that role.

2006

Wilson had some effective outings as a long reliever for Texas following a promotion, but not nearly enough, as his 6.94 ERA attests. He's not expected to play a large role out of the Texas bullpen in 2006.

2003

Wilson posted a combined 11-2 record, split between Single-A and Double-A this season, with a pretty suspect K/BB ratio (93 K/53 walks in 136 innings) considering his less than overpowering stuff. He needs to pass the Double-A Litmus Test before we get too excited.