KANSAS CITY, MO — The Royals are bringing back right-hander Michael Wacha on a three-year, $51 million contract that includes a club option for the 2028 season, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Wacha could earn up to $72 million over four years, including performance bonuses, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the club did not disclose financial terms.
He earns $18 million each of the next two seasons and $14 million in 2027. The deal includes a $14 million club option for 2028 and a $1 million buyout. In 2027 and 2028, Wacha could receive performance bonuses of up to $4 million per year. That means you could get $500,000 for 105 innings, plus $500,000 for every additional 5 to 140 innings.
The 33-year-old Wacha, who went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA last season, signed a contract with Kansas City last offseason that includes a $16 million salary for 2024 and a $16 million player option for next season. He would have had plenty of suitors in free agency, but his new contract with the Royals gives him the longevity he wants and gives the club some confidence in its starting rotation.
Wacha is scheduled to speak to reporters Monday at Kauffman Stadium.
“I believe Michael and his wife enjoy living in Kansas City, and that’s always a plus.” Asked about the possibility of the Royals re-signing him after the season, Royals general manager JJ Piccolo said: I think he and (Royals pitching coach) Brian Sweeney had a good relationship. So there is reason to be optimistic.
“But he pitched very well this year.” Piccolo said. “And he will have opportunities at other clubs so we will work on that. Luckily we have a few weeks to sit down with Michael and his representatives and try to figure out how we can work things out. look.”
Wacha started 29 games for the Royals and logged 166.2 innings, the second most of his 12-year big league career. He ranked 10th in ERA in the American League and helped the Kansas City rotation rank 2nd in the majors with an ERA of 3.55.
He made a pair of AL Division Series starts against the Yankees, both dueling with Gerrit Cole. At Yankee Stadium, they were unable to decide the game after allowing 4 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs in 3 innings, and lost the decisive Game 4 even though Wacha allowed only 6 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs while pitching. 5 times.
Wacha returns to a rotation that includes All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo, along with Brady Singer. The fifth spot could go to Kyle Wright, who was acquired in a trade with the Braves but spent last season rehabbing from shoulder surgery. But he will have to compete with Alec Marsh and others in spring training.
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APMLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
