Dodgers officially release Brian Wilson

Three days after designating veteran reliever Brian Wilson for assignment, the Los Angeles Dodgers have officially released the 32-year-old, allowing him to pursue a free agent contract with another team.

In doing so, the Dodgers will be on the hook for the balance of Wilson’s $9.5 million salary in 2015 if and when he signs elsewhere. But that would seem like a small price to pay for a new front office focused on eliminating liabilities.

And a liability Wilson truly was in 2014, posting a 4.66 ERA with a disappointing 29 walks 48 1/3 innings. Wilson’s command issues were compounded by a dip in velocity, which raises flags about the bulky elbow. He missed two weeks in April with ulnar nerve irritation in his right elbow, which is obviously alarming considering he was two years removed from Tommy John surgery. 

It’s entirely possible he never came anywhere near one-hundred percent. Just how much that arm has left is the Dodgers main concern, and those questions may make it difficult for Wilson to find anything other a minor-league deal. The Dodgers, who had 10 days to trade or release Wilson after his designation, obviously didn’t find much interest on that front.

Given Wilson’s experience and past success as a closer with the San Francisco Giants, someone will undoubtedly take a flier hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. Bullpen depth is something every team needs heading into a 162-game season. But it will be most interesting to see which teams step forward, and even more so how Wilson’s arm bounces back. 

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813