Orioles select contracts of Wright and Wilson (with Duquette quotes)

The Orioles announced today that they selected the contracts of right-handers Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson, protecting them from the Rule 5 draft that will be held on the final day of the Winter Meetings on Dec. 11 in San Diego.

The Orioles have 37 players on their 40-man roster. They're expected to make a selection in the Rule 5 draft.

Wilson, 25, was chosen as the organization's minor league Pitcher of the Year after going a combined 14-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 28 starts between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.

WIlson, a 10th-round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft ouf of the University of Virginia, was 10-5 with a 3.72 ERA in 16 starts with Bowie and 4-3 with a 3.60 ERA in 12 starts with Norfolk.

Wright, 24, finished strong for the Tides, posting a 0.76 ERA in five August starts. He didn't allowed an earned run in his last three starts, taking a no-hitter into the final innings of the last two, and permitted two earned runs or fewer in his last seven games.

Overall, Wright was 5-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 26 starts with Norfolk.

The Orioles chose Wright in the third round of the 2011 draft out of East Carolina.

Pitcher Parker Bridwell, 23, is a surprising omission.

Bridwell went 7-10 with a 4.45 ERA in 26 starts at Single-A Frederick. Teams routinely check on his availability in trade talks with the Orioles, who are waiting for him to become more consistent.

In his next-to-last start this summer, Bridwell allowed one hit, walked none and struck out 13 over eight scoreless innings. But he surrendered five runs over two innings in his previous outing.

The Orioles have been banking on his potential while remaining intrigued by his mid-90s fastball and plus changeup.

The Orioles also declined to protect pitcher Mychal Givens and catcher Brian Ward.

Givens, selected as a shortstop in the second round of the 2009 draft out of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, was converted to a reliever and went a combined 1-2 with a 3.53 ERA in 36 appearances between Frederick and Bowie.

Givens, throwing at a three-quarter arm angle, allowed 40 hits, walked 39, struck out 55 and hit eight batters in 58 2/3 innings.

Ward, 29, is regarded as the best defensive catcher in the system, but the Orioles already are carrying four catchers on their 40-man roster. He's a career .237 hitter in six minor league seasons, but he batted .355 this year in 15 games in the Dominican Winter League.

The Orioles also didn't protect 2009 first-round pick Matt Hobgood or South Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon, who was outrighted on Aug. 30.

Yoon didn't reach the majors this season and has two years remaining on a contract that pays $1.75 million in 2015 and $2.4 million in 2016.

Update: "Wilson and Wright are both proven at Triple-A," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "They have distinguished themselves as winning pitchers. They should be ready to compete for spots when we get to spring training.

"Wright was one of the top pitchers in the International League the last six weeks of the season. Wilson was the organization's Pitcher of the Year. They know their way around the mound."

Asked about the omissions of Bridwell, Givens and Ward, Duquette said, "We try to have our strongest team and take into account their capability to help the major league team. The players we have on the roster we hope will make a contribution on next year's team or be core players in the future."