The Royals are re-signing right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha on a three-year contract worth $51 million, which includes a club option for the 2028 season, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday.
Wacha could potentially earn up to $72 million over four years, including performance bonuses. The source requested to remain anonymous since the team did not disclose financial details.
His contract includes salaries of $18 million for the next two seasons and $14 million in 2027. The deal also has a $14 million club option for 2028, with a $1 million buyout. In 2027 and 2028, Wacha could earn up to $4 million in performance bonuses each year, receiving $500,000 for pitching 105 innings and for every additional five innings up to 140.
Wacha, who is 33 years old, had a record of 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA last season. He signed with Kansas City last offseason on a deal that included a $16 million salary for 2024 and a $16 million player option for the next season.
Although he would have had many options in free agency, this new agreement with the Royals gives him the stability he wanted and provides the team with certainty in their starting rotation.
Wacha is expected to talk to reporters on Monday at Kauffman Stadium.
“I do believe that Michael and his wife enjoy being in Kansas City and that’s always an advantage,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said at the end of the season when asked about the team’s chances of re-signing him.
“He had a very good experience here. I think he and (Royals pitching coach) Brian Sweeney got along great. So there are reasons to be optimistic.”
“But he pitched very well this year,” Picollo said, “and he is going to have opportunities with other clubs, so we will work on that. Luckily, we have a few weeks to sit down with Michael and his representation and try to see how we can work something out.”
Wacha started 29 games for the Royals and pitched 166.2 innings, which is the second-highest total in his 12-year big league career. He had a top-10 ERA in the American League and helped the Kansas City rotation achieve the second-best ERA in the majors at 3.55.
He made two starts in the AL Division Series against the Yankees, facing Gerrit Cole both times. In the first game at Yankee Stadium, he got no decision after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks over three innings.
He took the loss in Game 4, even though he allowed only two runs on six hits and a walk while pitching into the fifth inning.
Wacha returns to a rotation that includes All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo, along with Brady Singer. The fifth spot may go to Kyle Wright, who was traded from the Braves but spent last season recovering from shoulder surgery. He will need to compete with Alec Marsh and others during spring training for that position.
