Wright elected to become a free agent Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Wright cleared waivers after being removed from the Royals' 40-man roster earlier this week, and he's decided to exercise his right to free agency. The right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2024 after undergoing right shoulder surgery and made only eight rehab starts in 2025 due to a strained oblique. Wright is healthy now but faces an uncertain free-agent market.

The Royals placed Wright on outright waivers Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wright didn't pitch at all in 2024 and made only eight rehab starts in 2025 due to right shoulder surgery and more recently an oblique strain. He's considered healthy now, but Wright's velocity was down and he posted a 5.48 ERA in his 23 innings between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha this season. The former 20-game winner turned 30 last month and might have to settle for a minor-league contract this offseason.

Wright will be shut down for the next two weeks at Triple-A Omaha after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, Doug Miller of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wright had to be scratched from a scheduled start with Omaha this past Friday after injuring himself in a pregame bullpen session. He will be re-evaluated after a two-week shutdown period. Wright hasn't pitched at the big-league level since undergoing right shoulder surgery in October 2023.

The Royals activated Wright (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Omaha.

EDGE Analysis

Wright appears to be back to full health, but the Royals were unwilling to clear a spot for him on the 26-man active roster after he turned in a 5.48 ERA and 21:14 K:BB over 23 innings across eight rehab starts between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The right-hander hasn't pitched at the big-league level since undergoing right shoulder surgery in October 2023. He covered three innings in his most recent outing for Omaha on Saturday, and Wright could continue to get stretched out as a starter while he sticks around at Triple-A.

Wright (shoulder) allowed four runs on four hits and three walks over three innings in Saturday's rehab start with Triple-A Omaha. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Wright made his eighth rehab appearance Saturday, and his sixth since resuming activity following a pause due to shoulder fatigue. After tossing four scoreless innings in his previous outing June 15, the right-hander struggled this time out, battling command issues and surrendering a home run. With his 30-day rehab window set to expire June 24, Kansas City will have to activate him soon. However, Wright hasn't pitched in the majors since 2023 with Atlanta, lacks a clear path to a rotation spot and hasn't thrown more than four innings in any rehab outing, strongly suggesting he's ticketed for a long-relief role with the Royals if he isn't optioned to Triple-A Omaha after his rehab stint ends.

Wright (shoulder) struck out six and allowed two hits and one walk over four scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Omaha.

EDGE Analysis

Making his seventh start in the minors overall this season and the fifth of his current rehab assignment, Wright delivered his sharpest performance to date. He recorded 12 outs on 65 pitches (41 strikes) in Sunday's outing, inducing five swings and misses along the way. Wright's 30-day rehab window will come to a close June 24, so he'll presumably make one more start in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list. Though Cole Ragans (shoulder) is likely to remain on the shelf through the All-Star break, rookie Noah Cameron has thrived while replacing him in the rotation, so Kansas City may not have a starting role available for Wright upon his return.

Wright (shoulder) struck out five and gave up one hit and one walk over 3.2 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Wright's rehab assignment moved up to Triple-A Omaha after beginning at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 29-year-old hasn't pitched in the majors since September 2023 with Atlanta due to shoulder surgery and subsequent setbacks. The road back has been long and challenging, and while there may not be a clear spot in Kansas City's rotation, Wright is expected to be activated soon and could contribute out of the bullpen.

Wright (shoulder) struck out a batter over two perfect innings in his rehab start Sunday with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

EDGE Analysis

Wright made the third start of his rehab assignment but his first since May 7, after he had been held out of action for nearly two and a half weeks due to fatigue in his surgically repaired right shoulder. The 29-year-old hasn't pitched in an MLB game since Sept. 28, 2023 and could end up making his return from the 15-day injured list as a long reliever if the Royals don't have a rotation spot available for him. A decision on what his role will look like with Kansas City should become clearer based on the workloads he handles in his subsequent rehab outings.

Wright (shoulder) is expected to embark on a rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wright had his rehab assignment with Northwest Arkansas paused due to right shoulder fatigue, but the 29-year-old right-hander has been given the green light to resume his program. He's made two outings in Double-A and has allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out five across six innings. Wright is in the final stages of his recovery from right shoulder surgery that he underwent in October of 2023.

Wright has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to right shoulder fatigue.

EDGE Analysis

It's not altogether surprising given that Wright is coming back from major shoulder surgery, but it's a less-than-desirable development. The expectation is for Wright to be skipped for 1-to-2 starts before resuming his rehab assignment, but that will depend on how he recovers. Wright has made two rehab starts with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, allowing six runs (five earned) with a 5:3 K:BB over six innings.