Tampa Bay keeps its ace
The Rays are not letting Drew Rasmussen walk. On Saturday they exercised his $20 million club option for 2027, passing on a $500,000 buyout. According to Field Level Media’s report, the club has never paid a single player $20 million for one season.
The number is the product of escalators. Rasmussen signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal in January 2025 to avoid arbitration, and the option year started at $8 million before incentives pushed it to $20 million. He can become a free agent after 2027.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
A career year, then a World Series run
The right-hander went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts this season, setting career highs in wins, strikeouts (174) and innings (172). He led the American League with a 0.913 WHIP and a 5.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and made his second All-Star team in as many years.
October kept the pace up. Rasmussen went 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA over 28 2/3 innings in five postseason starts, striking out 31 and walking five. In Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees he allowed one hit through eight innings with 10 strikeouts. In the World Series he took a no-decision in Game 2 and then lost Game 5 on three days’ rest, allowing one run in four innings as Milwaukee won 4-1 to clinch its first title.
The health history is the obvious risk. He has had Tommy John surgery twice, in 2016 and 2017, plus an internal brace procedure in 2023. Starters Nick Martinez and Freddy Peralta have been granted free agency, which makes Rasmussen’s place at the top of the rotation even more important.
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