Rays, Wacha agree to 1-year deal reportedly worth $3M
The Tampa Bay Rays signed right-handed starter Michael Wacha, the team announced Friday.
Wacha Wacha pic.twitter.com/fgTfwZe0hy
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) December 18, 2020
The contract is a one-year deal worth $3 million, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Michael Wacha: $3M. Plus: $50,000 for Cy Young ($25,000-2nd; $10,000-3rd) #rays
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 18, 2020
Wacha, 29, threw 34 innings across seven starts and one relief appearance for the New York Mets this past season, posting a 6.62 ERA and 5.25 FIP.
Over his seven previous campaigns - all with the St. Louis Cardinals - Wacha authored a 3.91 ERA and 3.96 FIP in 165 games.
"Michael was a top priority for us," Rays general manager Erik Neander told the press after the signing became official, according to Juan Toribio of MLB.com.
Wacha also added he believed the Rays are "a perfect fit," per Toribio.
The Rays lost Charlie Morton to the Atlanta Braves in free agency earlier this offseason after rejecting his one-year, $15-million team option. Tampa Bay will also be without Yonny Chirinos for most or all of the 2021 campaign as the right-hander recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Wacha joins a rotation led by Blake Snell - who has factored heavily in trade rumors - and Tyler Glasnow.