Dodgers sign Jamey Wright
Veteran reliever returns to Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the signing of right-handed reliever Jamey Wright to a one-year contract. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.
"We're very familiar with Jamey from his time with us in 2012 and he's capable of pitching in a variety of different roles," said Colletti "He brings versatility, a veteran presence and added leadership to the staff. We look forward to having him back in 2014."
Last season, Wright went 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 66 games for the Tampa Bay Rays, who advanced to the Division Series before losing to Boston. In 2012, Wright made the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training and went 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 66 games.
Wright was primarily a starter for the first 10 seasons of his 18-year big league career and has made 22 relief appearances of 2.0 innings or more during the last three seasons. In those contests, the Oklahoma native has posted a 1.11 ERA (6 ER/48.2 IP) and limited hitters to a .177 batting average.
Wright has pitched in 658 career games (247 starts) with Colorado (1996-99, 2004-05), Milwaukee (2000-02), St. Louis (2002), Kansas City (2003, '09), San Francisco (2006), Texas (2007-08), Cleveland (2010), Seattle (2010-11), Los Angeles (2012) and Tampa (2013). Wright's 658 career games rank 10th among all active Major Leaguers.
The right-hander has excelled at Dodger Stadium over the course of his long career, going 9-4 with a 2.50 ERA (27 ER/97.1 IP) in 42 games (nine starts) at Chavez Ravine. That 2.50 ERA is his best mark in any Major League park (min. 20 games).
The 6'6 hurler turns 39 tomorrow and was originally drafted by the Rockies in the first round of the 1993 First-Year Player (28th overall) after high school.
Wright and his wife, Mamie, have one daughter and two sons.