The Tampa Bay Rays secured ace right-hander Drew Rasmussen for the 2027 season by choosing up his $20 million membership choice on Saturday.
Rasmussen, 31, produced a profession yr in serving to the Rays win the American League pennant. Tampa Bay, which has by no means paid one participant $20 million for a single season, per a number of experiences, may have paid him a $500,000 buyout.
He had signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal in January 2025 to keep away from arbitration. Rasmussen exceeded contract escalators for the choice yr, rising the worth from an $8 million place to begin to $20 million.
The Ray have already got seen fellow starters Nick Martinez and Freddy Peralta granted free company. Rasmussen can grow to be a free agent after the 2027 season.
Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 regular-season begins to set his single-season bests for wins, strikeouts (174) and innings pitched (172). He led the American League with a 0.913 WHIP and 5.44 strikeouts-to-walks ratio whereas been chosen to the All-Star Sport for the second time and twice in two seasons.
He went 2-1 within the 2026 postseason with a 2.20 ERA in 28 2/3 innings over 5 begins. He struck out 31 and walked 5 batters.
Rasmussen took the loss on Wednesday in Sport 5 of the World Sequence after permitting one run on two hits with 4 strikeouts and no walks in 4 innings — on three days’ relaxation. The Milwaukee Brewers secured their first championship with the 4-1 victory in St. Petersburg, Fla.
He additionally began Sport 2 in Milwaukee, yielding three runs, six hits and two walks whereas hanging out 4 in 3 2/3 innings however received a no-decision because the Brewers received 5-4.
A profession spotlight got here earlier within the playoffs, in Sport 1 of the American League Division Sequence in opposition to the New York Yankees. Rasmussen took a no-hitter by two outs within the eighth inning and completed with one hit allowed by eight in recording a 1-0 victory. He struck out 10 and walked two.
Rasmussen’s carer has taken many turns, together with three main elbow operations: Tommy John surgical procedures in 2016 and 2017 and an inside brace process in 2023.
For his profession, Rasmussen is 46-22 with two saves, a 2.83 ERA, 602 strikeouts and 151 walks in 632 2/3 innings over 160 regular-season video games (111 begins) with the Brewers (2020-21) and Rays (2021-present).
–Area Stage Media
