This hasn’t been a banner day of news for veteran knuckleballer Steven Wright. The Red Sox released Wright this afternoon in lieu of paying him a projected $1.5MM next season, and now it’s up in the air whether the right-hander will pitch again until 2021. Wright told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.
The need for a TJ procedure is the latest rough development for the 35-year-old Wright, whose stock has plummeted since an All-Star showing with the Red Sox in 2016. A litany of injuries and off-field issues have troubled Wright dating back to then, as he combined for just 84 innings of 4.71 ERA ball from 2017-19. He’s a two-time suspension recipient who sat for 15 games in 2018 after violating the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, and then missed 80 contests this year for a failed PED test.
After Wright came off the restricted list June 25, opposing batters tattooed him for six earned runs on 11 hits, three HRs and four walks in 6 1/3 innings. Wright then dealt with toe and elbow problems that prevented him from pitching past July 13, which will go down as his last appearance for a while. He’s now on the open market as someone who can only hope for a minor league contract, though it seems doubtful he’ll sign anytime soon.
This poor guy, what else can happen?
This guy was never the same after Farrell got him injured while pinch-running in LA.
An American League pitcher who had never batted, let alone run bases. What can possibly happen? Oops.
It’s true..Farrell pinch-running him has caused him to have Tommy John surgery for certain.
So who pays for his surgery?
Wright himself
I would imagine that he’s covered under insurance provided by MLB/MLBPA.
He has insurance.
MLBPA players’ health insurance kicks in after 1 day of service time.
Wow. Like UPS.
Negative, One has to pass their probationary/trainee period. Once your past that, then you receive your benefits packet several months later.
More importantly, does he get to keep his doctor if he likes him?
Class act Boston.
Hello??? The guy was suspended for 15 games for domestic violence in 2018 and for 80 games for rounds in 2019. Who’s the class act here?
Roids
Nothing wrong with the way the team handled this given his knee and suspensions. Since this was his final arb year coming up and he’s already done for the year, no team would just fork over a new contract knowing after 2020 he’s a free agent. He will work on recovering (knee and arm) and if he shows progress, there could be a reunion. I don’t see any reason why he would have animosity towards the team and unless he has a family reason to move, my thought is out of loyalty he would choose Boston if multiple teams were interested.
Agree Dewey. The knee was destroyed Pedroia bad over a year ago and he had the same initial surgery. Odds are he’ll never be able to start again even if he ever came back before tearing up his elbow.
There was an awful lot of health issues going on with Wright before. This was just the final nail.
Lol this happens all the time.
He’s done he won’t be able to pitch till he’s 37 or almost 37
He’s a knuckleballer. He can pitch till he’s 40.
Wow. That’s cold Boston
Cold for what guy should have been released months ago
Still young for a knuckleballer.
He was born cesarean but you wouldn’t notice, except when he leaves the house he goes out through the window
Why would a knuckleballer need steroids? Makes no sense.
Just a guess but if it was intentional, it likely had to do with trying to heal faster. He and a Pedie have not been able to recover from micro fracture surgery.
He likes to reminisce with people he doesn’t know. Granted it takes longer
Some people are afraid of heights.
He’s afraid of widths.
Hahaha. Comment of the week
A knuckleballer needing TJ…there is a first for everything.
Is this the guy that has sideburns BEHIND his ears?
In addition to the domestic violence & PED problems, he also got a moving violation when he came home one night and turned the key in the front door and the house started up, so he decided to drive it around a little.
Who cares. Hopefully he never pitches again in MLB. The guys a POS