As we O’s fans know very well, sometimes, there are signings that aren’t flashy or expensive.
Last season, the Orioles opened up their wallet and dished out $50 million to pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez and $8 million to outfielder Nelson Cruz. Baltimore has taken a different approach this season and one of their most “expensive” signings in free agency was relief pitcher Wesley Wright.
The Orioles signed Wright to a 1-year, $1.7 million deal in December. He spent the 2014 season with the Chicago Cubs and posted a 3.17 ERA in 48.1 innings.
So why is this small signing going to work out for the Orioles?
The team is set in late-inning relief, with Zach Britton at closer, Darren O’Day as the setup man either Brian Matusz or Tommy Hunter in the seventh inning role. However, the team needs consistent middle relief and Wright has the ability to provide that.
Wright is a strikeout pitcher, recording 290 strikeouts in 299.2 innings in his career. He had 37 strikeouts in 48.1 innings last season.
He held right-handed batters to a .251 batting average last season, which is better than Ryan Webb or T.J. McFarland. Both pitchers will be Wright’s main competition in securing a spot in Baltimore’s bullpen.
Wright also has impressive stats when runners on base. He held batters to a .216 average with runners on and batters to a .228 average with runners in scoring position last season, according to ESPN.com.
The Orioles would love to have Wright keep up those numbers, as he would be valuable coming into the middle innings if a starter gets into a jam.
Some fans might think he’ll struggle to pitch in the AL, as he has only pitched in the AL for one season of his career (between the Astros and Rays in 2013). However, Wright finished with a reasonable 3.69 ERA that year. Last season, he only gave up two runs in 7.2 innings when he pitched against AL teams.
There’s no questioning Wright’s talent, but it all depends on how he performs in Spring Training. There are limited spots in the bullpen and it will be tough to earn one, especially with Miguel Gonzalez possibly grabbing a middle relief spot.
However, Wright has shown to be a solid situational pitcher with his numbers and that’s something the Orioles need this season.
The best scenario for Wright is that he performs well in Spring Training and can come in around the sixth inning to get batters out with runners in scoring position.
Wright will be just right in this bullpen, as long he continues to pitch the way he did last season.
