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Chicago Cubs sign reliever Wesley Wright to 1-year contract

By Brad Rowland

Oct 4, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Wesley Wright (49) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning in game one of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Wesley Wright (49) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning in game one of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 4, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Wesley Wright (49) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning in game one of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Wesley Wright (49) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning in game one of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Major League Baseball teams can never have enough bullpen depth, and the Chicago Cubs are apparently putting that theory into practice.

The Cubs have signed former Astros and Rays relief pitcher Wesley Wright to a 1-year, $1.425 million contract, and this seems to be a quality investment for a team in “building” mode. The 28-year-old left-hander has put together a 3.28 ERA over his last 3 seasons (as reported the Cubs official Twitter account), but perhaps a bigger draw to him is the fact that he has struck out more than 1 batter per inning in his 6-year Major League career.

In terms of the 2014 bullpen in Chicago, it is pretty unlikely that Wright would be cast in the “closer” role, but with his combination of “stuff” and production level, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him cast in a high-leverage, “set-up” role. The Cubs front-office (namely Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer) know a good bargain when they see one, and if Wright can replicate his general performance from the past 3 calendar years, $1.425 million will be more than fair price for his services.

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