The Los Angeles Dodgers continued adding to their bullpen today, signing veteran righthander Jamey Wright to a one-year deal. Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reported the deal. Earlier in the day, the Dodgers reached an agreement with the former Cleveland Indians closer, Chris Perez.
Wright, who turns 39 on Christmas Eve, is coming off a solid season as a reliever for the Tampa Bay Rays. The veteran appeared in 66 games, and posted a 3.09 ERA with career-best strikeout and walk rates of 22.6 percent and 8.0 percent.
In 2012 Wright pitched for the Dodgers, and managed a 3.72 ERA with strikeout and walk rates of 17.7 percent and 9.8 percent in 66 games.
However, Wright started utilizing his cutter even more frequently this last season, throwing it on over 40 percent of his pitches. Since he began relying heavily on the cutter in 2011, he’s been equally effective against righties and lefties. The Dodgers hope that his reliance on the cutter can overcome the loss in fastball velocity.
Wright’s new contract likely represents a raise from the $900,00 he earned with the Rays this past year, which is the same figure he earned in 2012 with the Dodgers. Steamer and Oliver don’t think too highly of Wright, and both project him to be right around replacement level.
For the most part, the Dodgers have been quiet this offseason. The Dan Haren signing was a nice move. Earlier in the offseason they re-signed Brian Wilson. With Wright and Perez they’ve made a couple low-profile additions to a bullpen that, apart from closer Kenley Jansen was mediocre in 2013.
