Padres sign RHP Michael Wacha to one-year contract
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha to a one-year contract for the 2023 season with player options for 2024, 2025 and 2026, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller announced today. The agreement also includes a two-year club option for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Wacha (WAHK-uh), 31, went 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA (47 ER, 127.1 IP) across 23 starts in 2022 with the Boston Red Sox, his 10th season in the Majors. The 6-6, 215-pound right-hander had a 2.61 ERA through his first 20 starts before allowing 14 runs over his final three outings (13.1 IP). His 3.32 ERA led all Red Sox starters (min. five starts), and his 1.12 WHIP was the second-best mark of his career behind his rookie season in 2013 (1.10 in 64.2 IP with St. Louis). The Jupiter, Fla. native tossed at least 5.0 IP in 17 starts, including 6.0+ IP in 10 outings, and the Red Sox were 16-7 in his 23 starts. He’s now made 20+ starts six times in his career, including each of the last three 162-game seasons. He limited left-handed hitters to a .188 AVG/.598 OPS (37-for-197), and opponents had a .189 AVG/.549 OPS with RISP (17-for-90).
The Texas A&M University product was originally selected by St. Louis in the first round (19th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and is 74-50 with a 4.05 ERA (519 ER, 1,153.2 IP) in 225 career Major League outings (204 starts) between the Cardinals (2013-19), New York Mets (2020), Tampa Bay Rays (2021) and Red Sox (2022). A 2015 National League All-Star, he has made six Postseason starts and two relief appearances, going 4-3 with a 5.21 ERA (22 ER, 38.0 IP). In the Cardinals’ NL-pennant winning 2013 campaign, he became one of four rookies to ever be named MVP of a League Championship Series after going 2-0 with two scoreless starts opposite Clayton Kershaw (6.2 IP in Game 2, 7.0 IP in Game 6). His scoreless streak continued into the World Series against the Red Sox, ending at 18.2 IP.
Wacha will wear No. 52.