*Photo from MLB Trade Rumors*
There is a hole in the Boston Red Sox starting rotation after Eduardo Rodriguez departed in free agency. Boston went to a former Tampa Bay Ray to try and address it. The Red Sox and RHP Michael Wacha have agreed to a one year, $7 million deal, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. The Red Sox have confirmed the deal.
After spending 2020 with the New York Mets, Wacha signed a one year, $3 million contract with the Rays last offseason. In the 2021 season, Wacha pitched to a 3-5 record with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, tossing a team leading 124 2/3 innings, making 23 starts and 6 relief appearances. He also struck out 121 hitters while issuing just 31 walks, for a 3.9 strikeout to walk ratio.
Wacha said of his confidence level entering 2022 that "I feel like, last year, I just had some ups and downs. Felt like it clicked there for a little bit and then things wouldn't really go the way I'd planned. But towards the end of the season, I felt like the ball was coming out and my repertoire and my approach on the mound was where I needed to be to move forward."
Wacha, who is only 30 years old, has been in the majors for 9 years after making his debut with the St.Louis Cardinals in the 2013 season, a season that saw them lose the world series to the Red Sox in 6 games, with Wacha making two starts in that series, including the season ending game 6. Since then, his only really notable recognition has been an NL all star game selection in 2015.
In his 9 big league seasons, Wacha has a career 63-48 record with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP, striking out a career 917 batters while throwing 1,026 1/3 innings, making 181 starts and 21 relief appearances, spending 7 seasons with the Cardinals, and one season each with the Mets and Rays. In 8 career playoff games, Wacha has a 4-3 record in 38 innings pitched.
Asked about pitching at the Fenway park atmosphere, Wacha said that "I'll tell you what, some of the most electric atmospheres I've ever pitched in were at Fenway Park. You mentioned the 2013 World Series where it was bananas out there. It was 30,000-40,000 fans and they are just screaming at the top of their lungs and creating that atmosphere that you love playing in. It's going to be a lot more fun whenever they're cheering you on and they're on my side."
With Rodriguez having signed a lucrative deal in Detroit, the starting rotation in Boston currently consists of Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, and Nick Pivetta, with Wacha and youngsters Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock competing for two rotation spots in Spring Training, if the Red Sox don't add any more starters before pitchers and catchers report in February.
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