Royals Secure Michael Wacha on 3-Year Deal Valued at $51M

The Kansas City Royals have officially signed starting pitcher Michael Wacha to a three-year contract, as confirmed by the team on Sunday. The contract is valued at $51 million, with a club option for a potential fourth year. Additional incentives could push the deal's total worth to $72 million, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Wacha's return to Missouri follows a standout season, where he recorded a 3.35 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 166 2/3 innings—his highest innings count since 2015 when he played with the St. Louis Cardinals. Kansas City would have likely extended a qualifying offer to Wacha if he hadn't exercised his $16-million player option for the 2025 season, Passan reports.

The right-hander brings with him a 3.89 ERA accumulated over 12 seasons in Major League Baseball.