Brian Wilson Released by Dodgers: Latest Details and Reaction

Having already designated reliever Brian Wilson for assignment, the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to release the 32-year-old.The Dodgers announced the move:Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Timesinitially broke news of the move:Wilson had a strong first season with the Dodgers, posting a 0.66 earned run average and striking out 13 batters in 13.2 innings. He also pitched six scoreless innings in the 2013 playoffs.In 2014, Wilson's performance dropped significantly. He gave up 25 earned runs in 48.1 innings.USA Today's Gabe Lacques reported on Tuesday that the Dodgers decided to DFA Wilson, meaning they would need to either trade or release him within 10 days. It also meant Los Angeles would still be on the hook for $9.5 million of dead money."For us, the contract is the contract," said general manager Farhan Zaidi. "We don't want to be sort of tied down by financial obligationswe're just trying to build the best team we can for 2015."CBSSports.com's Dayn Perry wrote that Los Angeles made the smart decision to simply cut ties altogether rather than keep Wilson on the roster simply because it'd be paying him millions:This reflects well on the Dodger front office. Too often, teams will keep a player on the active roster and give him regular duty solely because he's owed a lot money. The ill-considered contract must be justified by having that player in the lineup, rotation or bullpen, the thinking goes. This, of course, makes no sense. You're going to pay him the money anyway, so why harm the team's chances by giving time to a sub-replacement level talent' In effect, said dubious contract becomes all the more damaging when it's allowed to manifest itself on the field and, by extension, in the standings.While Wilson had a rather ignominious end to his time in Los Angeles, he's still a proven bullpen arm. Although his days as a closer are likely over, he can be a late-inning option in crunch situations.Wilson likely have plenty of suitors in the coming weeks.
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