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The teams that call Missouri home are having a busy offseason. The Kansas City Royals and RHP Michael Wacha have agreed to a one year, $16 million contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Royals have confirmed the signing.
Wacha's contract has a player option for the 2025 season that can push the deal to two years and $32 million. He also has $500,000 available in bonuses in 2024 based on innings pitched. After a 106 loss season in 2023, the Royals have now spent over $100 million in free agency this offseason despite not having a winning season since 2015, when they won the World Series.
Royals GM JJ Picollo said of signing Wacha that "When we talk about adding to our clubhouse, winners and people that have been there, Michael certainly represents that. And then you look at what he’s done the last two years: 25-6. Last year, top 10 in the National League in ERA, opponents batting average and wins."
Last season, Wacha played for the San Diego Padres after signing with them in free agency. He posted a 3.22 ERA, 3.89 FIP, and 1.161 WHIP, averaging 2.9 walks per 9 innings and 8.3 strikeouts per 9 over 134 1/3 innings and 24 starts.
It was the second straight strong season for Wacha, who became a free agent after the Padres declined a two year team option, leading to Wacha declining a player option for 2024. He had a 5.11 ERA between 2019 and 2021 before posting 3.32 and 3.22 marks in 2022 and 2023.
Across 11 seasons in the majors, Wacha has played for the Padres, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. He has posted a 3.96 ERA, 4.05 FIP, and 1.292 WHIP over 1,288 innings, 228 starts, and 249 total games. He also has a 5.21 ERA and 1.289 WHIP in 8 appearances, totaling 38 innings in the playoffs.
In 2013, Wacha debuted in the majors less than a year after he was drafted in 2012. He shined in 15 appearances before an equally strong postseason, winning the NLCS MVP before the Cardinals ultimately lost in the World Series. He made the NL All Star team in 2015.
Wacha said of signing with the Royals that "Seeing the young core that’s been coming up shows a lot of great potential. And then after getting on the phone with JJ and discussing the type of vision that he sees here, what he’s trying to build here, seeing those moves coming in, a lot of excitement."
The signing of Wacha makes him another veteran in the Royals rotation as they look to make the jump as their rebuild continues. They already signed Seth Lugo to bolster their starting pitching, which also has Jordan Lyles and Cole Ragans guaranteed spots, with Brady Singer a candidate for the 5th spot alongside Daniel Lynch and Kyle Wright.
So far this offseason, the Royals have brought in Lugo, Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton, Garrett Hampson, and Will Smith as they look to progress from a few hideous looking seasons in a row.
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