Red Sox rumors: Michael Wacha seeking 2-year deal in free agency (report)
Things have been relatively quiet when it comes to Michael Wacha this winter. Though the veteran righty had a strong year in Boston in 2022, he remains unsigned with about two weeks to go before pitchers and catchers report to spring training camps in Florida and Arizona.
Wacha, the top free agent starting pitcher remaining on the market, is seeking a two-year contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale adds that Wacha is looking for a deal in the $30 million range (about $15 million per year).
Wacha, 31, was a stabilizing force for the Red Sox rotation when healthy in 2022, going 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts (127 ⅓ innings) despite spending two stints on the injured list. His traditional stats (like ERA and WHIP) paint a rosier picture of his season than some of his advanced numbers. Wacha’s FIP (4.14), career-low BABIP (.260) and strikeout rate (20.2%) suggest he was a bit lucky throughout the 2022 season. As a result, it seems like teams and Wacha’s camp have differed on his value all winter, resulting in a slow-moving process despite how the rest of the rotation market moved very quickly in November and December.
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Wacha has been linked to Minnesota and Baltimore in recent weeks, though it’s unclear if those teams have continued their pursuits after acquiring Pablo López and Cole Irvin, respectively. The Red Sox probably aren’t a great fit with seven starters (Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Garrett Whitlock, James Paxton, Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello and Tanner Houck) already in the mix. At this point, if Wacha doesn’t accept what is being offered to him (likely one-year deals or one-year deals with options), he might be better off waiting until spring training begins to see if teams suffer rotation injuries and need a ready-made replacement.
Wacha is looking to become the latest starter to land a multi-year contract in free agency this winter. Carlos Rodón, Jacob deGrom, Kodai Senga, Taijuan Walker, Jameson Taillon, Tyler Anderson, Chris Bassitt, Zach Eflin, Justin Verlander, José Quintana, Ross Stripling, Jordan Lyles, Drew Smyly, Sean Manaea, Andrew Heaney, Nathan Eovaldi and Trevor Williams all received at least two guaranteed years earlier in the offseason.
