The New York Mets announced today that the club has signed LHP Justin Wilson to a two-year contract. To make room for Wilson on the 40-man roster, the Mets designated infielder Gavin Cecchini for assignment.
Wilson, 31, stranded 34 of 37 inherited runners with the Chicago Cubs last season, the best rate in the National League and the second-best percentage (91.9%) in the Majors. He has made 346 appearances since 2014, the second-most among left-handed pitchers.
"Justin has had tremendous success vs. left-handers and right-handers," Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. "He's a power arm and makes our bullpen much deeper."
He held left-handed batters to a .190 (15-79) average and a .342 slugging mark last year. The 6-2, 205-pounder racked up 69 strikeouts in 54.2 innings over 71 games in 2018.
Wilson has held left-handers to a .241 (116-481) career batting average and right-handers to a .211 (188-889) mark.
He went 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA (21 earned runs/61.0 innings) and 66 strikeouts in 74 games with the Yankees in 2015. The Anaheim, CA native collected a career-high 13 saves in 2017 with Detroit.
Wilson is 26-19 with 14 saves, 110 holds, 407 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA (137 earned runs/370.2 innings) in 412 Major League games with the Pirates, Yankees, Tigers and Cubs.