Royals, Michael Wacha Agree to Three-Year Contract Extension Ahead of Option Deadline
The Kansas City Royals are determined to prove last winter’s spending spree wasn’t a one-off, and they’re off to a solid start.
Following an impressive inaugural campaign, right-hander Michael Wacha agreed to a three-year contract extension Sunday afternoon, including a 2028 club option. The 33-year-old had until 5 pm ET on Monday to decide on his player option for ‘25.
Instead, Wacha’s new contract voids that option and will keep him a part of the Royals’ starting rotation through at least 2027.
Wacha inked a two-year, $32-million contract with Kansas City last off-season, with an opt-out following Year 1. Had he exercised his player option for next season, the veteran hurler would’ve earned $16 million – matching his ‘24 salary.
Under his new deal, the 6-foot-6 starter is guaranteed $51 million over three years, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Sunday. That amount can reach a maximum of $72 million through performance bonuses and his ‘28 club option.
The Royals will pay Wacha $18 million in 2025 and ‘26, receiving $14 million in ‘27 and another $14 million the following season if his option is exercised. If it’s declined, he’ll be paid a $1-million buyout.
Wacha helped usher Kansas City back to the playoffs this past season, pitching to a 3.35 ERA and 3.65 FIP with 145 strikeouts across 29 starts, totalling 166.2 innings – the second-most of his 12-year MLB career, trailing only his 2015 workload (181.1).
Additionally, the experienced righty was worth 3.3 fWAR with the Royals, the highest of his career. The only other time he was a three-win pitcher came in 2017 with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he spent seven seasons from 2013-19.
Staying in one city has proven quite challenging since then, as Wacha – an All-Star in ‘15 – played for four different teams – the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres – in four seasons before landing in Kansas City last off-season.
The Royals featured a formidable starting rotation in 2024, including ace Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Brady Singer and Wacha – a talented quartet responsible for the club’s 3.55 starter’s ERA, second-best in the majors behind only the Seattle Mariners’ 3.38.
Keeping that group together undoubtedly sat atop general manager J.J. Picollo’s off-season priority list. Now that the ink is dry on Wacha’s extension, the organization can look ahead to complementing a roster that won 86 games a season ago, clinching a playoff berth for the first time since their World Series-winning ‘15 season.
Kansas City’s front office is expected to be aggressive in free agency for a second straight winter, with most of their efforts likely to centre around improving an offence headlined by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. – the franchise’s cornerstone.
But the Royals’ bullpen will also require a few upgrades. They welcomed Lucas Erceg, who took over as their closer, and Hunter Harvey via mid-season trades. However, adding at least one more high-leverage reliever will be crucial to taking that next step in 2025.
Teams can officially begin signing free agents once 5 pm ET hits on Monday.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Jeffrey Hayes. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.