Wright was released by the Pirates on Thursday, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.
Wright has made 18 appearances and 12 starts with Triple-A Indianapolis this season. He posted a 6.68 ERA and 1.87 WHIP to go along with 70 strikeouts across 63.1 frames. Given that lack of success, it's not a huge surprise that the Pirates opted to look elsewhere within their system. Miguel Yajure (forearm) was reinstated from the injured list and took over Wright's rotation spot.
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Pirates' Steven Wright: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Pirates reassigned Wright (elbow) to their minor-league camp Monday.
Wright hasn't pitched in affiliated ball since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2019 and didn't join the Pirates for spring training until last week, so he was never a legitimate threat to make the Opening Day roster. The knuckleballer at least appears to be back to full health following the reconstructive arm surgery, as he's scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut in Monday's game against the Twins, according to Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic. Once the exhibition schedule concludes Tuesday, Wright will likely stick around at the Pirates' spring facility in Florida to continue to ramp up while awaiting for a potential opening in the big-league rotation or bullpen.
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Pirates' Steven Wright: Signs minors deal with Pirates
Rotowire
Wright (elbow) signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Sunday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Wright's recent seasons have involved Tommy John surgery, a suspension for domestic violence and another for performance-enhancing drugs. His surgery came back in October of 2019, so he's probably able to get into game action soon. It's hard to see him carving out a significant role given that he's a 36-year-old who recorded a 4.71 ERA in his previous three seasons and is coming off a major procedure, though knuckleballers often age more gracefully than other pitchers.
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Steven Wright: Needs Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Wright will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.
Wright was released by the Red Sox on Friday, a move which looks to be at least partially informed by this news. The surgery will almost certainly keep Wright out for all of the 2020 season, but if he undergoes the procedure soon, he could be good to go by spring training of 2021. Whether he's able to find a job at that point remains to be seen. He'll be 36 years old at that point and has posted a 4.71 ERA over his last three seasons, serving suspensions for domestic violence and PEDs over that stretch.
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Steven Wright: Cut loose by Red Sox
Rotowire
Wright (elbow) was released by the Red Sox on Friday.
Injuries and suspensions for both domestic violence and PEDs have combined to limit Wright to just 84 innings over the last three seasons. He wasn't particularly effective when available, posting a 4.71 ERA over that stretch. He most recently received a PRP injection in his elbow, making his status unclear for 2020. With plenty of risk from his age, injuries and performance, he may have a tough time finding a major-league deal this winter.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Heads to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Red Sox transferred Wright (toe, elbow) to the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Wright will be eligible to return in mid-September, but since he has yet to resume a proper throwing program, it appears more likely than not that his season is over. The right-hander was first placed on the IL in July with a bruised toe, but his elbow looks to be his chief concern at this point. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection in the elbow in early July from Dr. James Andrews and is likely still awaiting clearance for the next step in his rehab.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Receives PRP injection
Rotowire
Wright (toe) recently received a PRP injection in his elbow, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.
Wright has been sidelined since mid-July with a bruised toe, but he received a shot to alleviate pain in his elbow after visiting with Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday. It's not yet known how this will affect the veteran's recovery timeline.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Meeting with Dr. James Andrews
Rotowire
Wright (toe) will meet with Dr. James Andrews about an elbow injury, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Wright has been out since mid-July with a bruised toe, but an elbow injury bad enough to visit Dr. Andrews for is a much more serious matter. The severity of his injury should become clear after his visit.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Visiting doctors in Boston
Rotowire
Wright (toe) is visiting with doctors in Boston on Saturday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.
Wright has been sidelined since July 13 with a right toe contusion and has yet to resume baseball activities, but Saturday's meeting with the doctors could help provide a timeline for his return.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Out longer than expected
Rotowire
Wright (toe) still isn't doing any baseball activities, Guerin Austin of NESN reports.
Wright has been out for a week with a bruised right big toe. He seems to be set for longer than a minimum-length stay on the injured list, though the Red Sox have yet to provide a specific timeline.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Moves to IL
Rotowire
The Red Sox placed Wright on the 10-day injured list with a right big toe contusion, Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.
Wright was roughed up for three runs on three hits while recording only one out in his relief appearance in Saturday's loss, but the poor showing was the least of his concerns. Instead, Wright was hobbled after taking a line drive off his right foot and will apparently need at least a week and a half to wait for the swelling and soreness in his big toe to subside. The newly acquired Andrew Cashner will assume Wright's spot on the 25-man roster.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Exits with foot bruise
Rotowire
Wright was diagnosed with a right foot contusion after X-rays came back negative Saturday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.
Wright had a rough evening as he allowed three runs on three hits in one-third of an inning before he was hit by a line drive in the foot to force his exit. The 34-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more is known on the injury.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Being considered for rotation
Rotowire
Wright is being considered as a potential fifth starter, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox are discussing options to fill the fifth starter job after losing Brian Johnson (infection) indefinitely. With the news that Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) is expected to serve as a traditional closer upon his return from the injured list, manager Alex Cora is looking at Wright and Hector Velazquez as starters. Wright was expected to pitch in a variety of relief roles after returning from an 80-game suspension, but he was stretched out to three innings while on rehab. "We have to talk about it," Cora said. "As you know, physically it's one of those that can he deal with the workload? That's the important thing. Can he do it for five innings or is he better off going two innings, an off day and two innings after that? We've been talking for two days now, looking for answers and trying to make adjustments."
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Returns as expected
Rotowire
Wright was reinstated from his suspension as expected Tuesday.
Wright has been out all season after being hit with an 80-game ban for taking performance-enhancing drugs. In 9.2 innings of rehab work for Triple-A Pawtucket, he allowed just two runs. He'll pitch out of the bullpen for the Red Sox.
Red Sox's Steven Wright: Will be activated Tuesday
Rotowire
Wright (suspension) will be activated Tuesday when eligible to return from an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports.
Wright made a rehab appearance Saturday, pitching two scoreless innings for Triple-A Pawtucket, and Sunday was deemed ready to return. He'll pitch as a reliever for the Red Sox.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Could be activated next week
Rotowire
Wright (suspension) is expected to be activated Tuesday when he is eligible to return from an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Manager Alex Cora said Wright will make one more rehab appearance for Triple-A Pawtucket before his activation. The knuckleballer has posted a 2.35 ERA while striking out four over 7.2 innings with the PawSox. Wright's balky knee means he'll be used as a reliever instead of filling a rotation spot.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Makes 2019 debut at Triple-A
Rotowire
Wright (suspension) tossed 1.2 innings in relief in his first rehab outing Sunday with Triple-A Pawtucket. He gave up one run on one hit -- a home run -- and struck out two in the 26-pitch outing.
The appearance was Wright's first in affiliate ball since Sept. 29 of last season. Wright, whose 80-game suspension concludes June 24, will use the next two weeks to build up his arm in the minors after the long layoff. Though the Red Sox have cycled though multiple No. 5 starters since Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) was shut down in April, manager Alex Cora said Wright won't be a candidate to enter the rotation and is viewed strictly as a reliever, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com.
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Red Sox's Steven Wright: Rehab assignment impending
Rotowire
Wright (suspension) is expected to report to one of the Red Sox's minor-league affiliates to begin a rehab assignment June 10, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Wright has been working out at the Red Sox's extended spring training facility in Florida since receiving an 80-game suspension in March for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy. The 34-year-old opted not to appeal the ban and has kept his arm conditioned by throwing bullpen and live batting practice sessions in addition to simulated games. Wright is slated to pitch a three-inning simulated game Wednesday as a final dress rehearsal for his first rehab appearance next weekend. He'll be eligible to rejoin the Red Sox on June 25 and could immediately factor into the team's late-inning mix. In his 16 outings as a reliever in 2018, the knuckleballer posted a 1.52 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .190 batting average.
