The Diamondbacks have released relievers Sam LeCure and Wesley Wright after the decision was made that neither would make the active roster to open the year, the club announced.
LeCure, 31, was hoping to get back to his days of being a sturdy pen presence. The righty topped 300 innings between 2010-14 with the Reds, compiling a 3.53 ERA. While he had good results in the majors last season after spending most of the year at Triple-A, he’s continued to see a drop in his velocity and strikeouts per nine.
The left-handed Wright, who’s also 31, was in much the same situation, having thrown less innings but compiled comparable results to LeCure over the four seasons leading up to 2015. But he dealt with shoulder issues last year, limiting his availability significantly.
The veteran southpaw did have a solid spring, at least, allowing only two earned runs and posting eight strikeouts against three walks in 8 1/3 innings. That wasn’t the case for LeCure, who surrendered seven earned and managed only five K’s in his eight frames.
Hmm, I wonder which of Barrett, Bracho, & Burgos won the final bullpen spot since Hale decided against carrying a second LHP with the release of Wright.
Has to be Barrett. We need a flamethrower in the bullpen
Wright hasn’t made a team out of ST since he was a Cub? WOW if that’s the case, he was so good as a reliever 2 years ago, or maybe I was blinded by the fact that he never really got blown up while with the Cubs. Either way, he would seem like an asset considering he is a lefty with good stuff.
Wright or Parra?
Does Kaleb Fleck have a chance?
Too bad about Sam LeCure, I always liked him with the Reds. It’d be nice to see him back.