On Tuesday, the San Diego Padres plucked the top remaining free agent starter off the market when they signed right-hander Michael Wacha.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a solid bounce-back season with the Boston Red Sox in 2022 after injuries had derailed his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals and he had struggled with the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.
He won 11 games in 23 starts and posted a 3.32 ERA, his best mark since 2018.
Wacha had been an All-Star and an NLCS MVP during his time in St. Louis.
On Twitter, Jon Heyman of the New York Post revealed the terms of Wacha’s new deal out in San Diego.
Michael Wacha, Padres
Guarantee: $26M/4
Bonus $3.5M
2023 $4M
Club options, simultaneous
2024 $16M
2025 $16M
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If options declined
2024 player option $6.5M
2025 player option $6M
2026 player option $6M
All one at a timeÂ
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For 2023 or player options
$500K 20, 25 GS
$1M 30 GS— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 16, 2023
According to Heyman, the deal is for four years and is worth $26 million.
However, there are some interesting pieces of the deal to note.
Firstly, the veteran righty will get a signing bonus of $3.5 million.
The deal also includes a healthy amount of options.
He’ll earn $4 million in 2023, but the Padres hold club options for 2024 and 2025, each for $16 million.
If those options are declined, Wacha has the chance to exercise player options for 2024 for $6.5 million, and 2025 and 2026 for $6 million.
For 2023 and his player options, the former All-Star will earn $500K if he makes 20-25 starts.
If he makes 30 starts, he’ll earn an additional $1 million.
The Padres now have a rotation that features Wacha, Joe Musgrove, Blake Snell, and Yu Darvish, with Seth Lugo and Nick Martinez as other options.
Wacha will reunite with his former Cardinals teammate in Matt Carpenter and will join Xander Bogaerts, who he was teammates with last year in Boston.
NEXT: MLB Insider Discusses Padres Rotation Options
