Baltimore Orioles: Mike Wright Traded To Seattle Mariners

The Mike Wright era is officially over for the Baltimore Orioles.

It’s a weird feeling, but the Mike Wright era is over, for good. For the first time since the Baltimore Orioles drafted Mike Wright in the third round of the 2011 draft, the right-handed pitcher will join a new organization.

Per MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko, the Baltimore Orioles have traded Wright to the Seattle Mariners for minor league infielder Ryne Ogren. Wright was designated for assignment on Easter Sunday and replaced with RHP Gabriel Ynoa.

After clamoring for the Orioles to make a move with Wright for several years, general manager Mike Elias has done what the previous regime could not and pull the trigger. After a disastrous start to the 2019 season, which saw Wright give up 14 earned runs on 20 hits (including five home runs) in 13 innings (9.45 ERA, 7.69 FIP, 2.03 WHIP), fans will no longer have to sit through Mike Wright attempting to close out a game or hold a late lead in what few games the Orioles find themselves winning in.

Wright routinely flashed why the Orioles took so long to give up on him, but the 29-year-old reliever out of East Carolina could never put it all together for long periods on the mound.

With the organization in full rebuild mode, it became clear, very quickly, that there would be no future role on this team for Mike Wright. Entering the year out of options, he was given his opportunity, failed to produce, and cycled through. Many more names are sure to follow Wright as Mike Elias and his staff continue to evaluate an underperforming bullpen.

In a shocking turn of events, another major league franchise believed they can work with Wright and traded for the veteran reliever. I assumed Wright would pass through waivers, return to AAA, dominate with the Norfolk Tides, and the process would start all over again.

However, this isn’t the old regime.

The Orioles acquired 22-year-old infielder Ryne Ogren in exchange for Wright, a product of Elon University. Ogren was a 12th-round pick of the Mariners last year and played in 55 games for the short-season Everett Aquasox of the Northwest League.

He slashed .250/.344/.356 with 13 extra-base hits, 31 runs driven in, and three stolen bases. He’s been with the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League in 2019, hitting .159 with two home runs.

Ogren has played every infield position except for catcher in his brief minor league career, fitting the mold for the type of player that Mike Elias has continued to bring into the organization.

Until next time, Mike Wright. Enjoy the west coast.