Jamey Wright Returns

[Panzram]

Notes: Wright returns to Royals
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Right-hander Jamey Wright was re-signed by the Royals on Saturday as backup insurance for the rotation.
Wright, 29, had been training with the Chicago Cubs who gave him permission to contact other clubs.

"I had a verbal agreement with the Cubs to compete as the fifth starter," Wright said. "Three weeks later, they signed Greg Maddux, and he's pretty tough to beat out for the fifth spot."

Wright started four games for the Royals last September, going 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA. His victory was a complete-game shutout of the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 13. He also pitched well in a complete-game loss to the Anaheim Angels in his Royals debut on Sept. 6.
"I liked his stuff," pitching coach John Cumberland said. "He had a couple of quality starts for us."

Wright was not offered arbitration by the Royals after last season and became a free agent. Therefore, he cannot play for them in the Major Leagues until May 1.

Instead, Wright will pitch in the rotation at Triple-A Omaha.

"I'm really excited to be back," Wright said. "This is a good group of guys, and they've got a good thing going."

Wright hurriedly signed a minor-league contract Saturday morning, hopped onto the team bus bound for Tucson, Ariz., and entered the game against Arizona in the fifth inning.

The first batter he faced, Alex Cintron, pounded a homer to right field on a 2-1 pitch.

Wright last year pitched for three Triple-A clubs -- Indianapolis, Oklahoma and Omaha -- with a combined record of 6-9. A year ago, he was released by the Seattle Mariners.

Reyes' stock rises: Dennys Reyes, angling for the left-hander's spot in the bullpen, started against the Diamondbacks and threw four shutout innings. He gave up two hits, including a double that glanced off left fielder Aaron Guiel's glove.

Reyes had three strikeouts, giving him 11 in 14 innings this spring, and got two double-play grounders. He lowered his ERA to 3.86.

"I have to make the run the last week because we're running out of time," Reyes said. "I need to throw strikes and be ahead in the count. It's really an advantage for me to be ahead in the count; that was my problem last year. I was falling behind in the count."

Reyes has 27 starts among his 268 Major League appearances, but is willing to fill any role.

"It doesn't matter. I just like to help the ballclub I'm playing with," he said. "I love to pitch, I love to be on the mound and I love to challenge hitters. Whether I relieve or start, I'm happy."

Reyes comes with full tool box; he throws a fastball, sinker, changeup, curveball, slider and cutter. On Saturday, he threw 56 pitches, half of them strikes.

"He got a little tired at the end, but, other than that, he looked really good," manager Tony Pena said. "I was very pleased."

Reyes outpitched a much more famous lefty, Randy Johnson. Each got the decision in the Royals' 6-2 victory.

"He faced some good hitters, too," Pena said. "It wasn't like he faced a "B" team."

Right-hander D.J. Carrasco, expected to end up in the bullpen, notched two scoreless innings after having an 8.00 ERA in his first eight outings. Bullpen candidate Joe Dawley reeled off a perfect inning, but another right-hander, Nate Field, gave up a foul-line homer to Alan Zinter in the ninth.

"The battle is still on," Pena said. "It's going to go right to the end."

Nothing warm: General manager Allard Baird has been talking to other clubs about possible deals. "A lot of things are floating out there, but as far as anything being warm, no," he said.

Injury update: First baseman Mike Sweeney, scratched from the starting lineup on Friday, did not make Saturday's long bus ride to Tucson for the game against the Diamondbacks. Manager Tony Pena expects Sweeney to be ready to play Sunday.

Left-hander Jimmy Gobble, scratched from Saturday's start because of a mild abdominal strain, will be reevaluated over the next couple of days.

Up next: The Royals will start right-hander Zack Greinke, already ticketed for the Omaha roster, against the San Diego Padres on Sunday at Surprise, Ariz. The Padres' starter has not been announced.

[Durango53]

Hey Koz mind if I jump in here.

Good for Jamie. I wish him a ton of luck. He has always been one of my favorit players and I just think he got rushed up to quick in the Rox and had to much pressure to pitch in a bad place and learn. Had great flashs here and there and then looked bad most of the time. I dont know why I have always rooted for the guy and still is one of my favs. I wish him luck and hope he gets to be a starter. Heck he has such a great sinker he might even look into closing? Just a thought. But Good luck Jamie unless you are pitching agaist the Twins!!!