I am full even if I do not enter the free agent market. Michael Waka, 33, a right-handed pitcher who led the Royals` surge this year, will continue to take the mound next year.
The Major League’s official website (MLB.com ) reported on the 4th (Korea Standard Time) that “the Kansas City club announced an extension contract with Waka.”
The extended contract that the Kansas City Royals and Waka signed is worth 51 million U.S. dollars for three years. The deal amounts to 70.4 billion won in Korean won. Waka will receive 18 million dollars in annual salary from 2025 to 2026, and 14 million dollars in annual salary and bonuses based on performance in 2027. The bonus is up to 4 million dollars. The club’s option worth 14 million dollars in 2028 is also included.
Waka is a veteran right-hander who has played in the Major League for 12 years. Waka, who made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013, was also selected as an All-Star in the National League in 2015 with 17 wins, 7 losses and an ERA of 3.38 in 30 games and 181 ⅓ innings, but he has since shown jagged pitching due to numerous injuries including right shoulder, left side, left knee, and right hamstring, and has been assigned to various clubs including the New York Mets in 2020, the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, the Boston Red Sox in 2022, and the San Diego Padres in 2023.
Still, Waka, who succeeded in reviving with 11 wins, 2 losses and an ERA of 3.32 in 23 games in Boston in 2022, showed off his robustness by playing 14 wins, 4 losses and an ERA of 3.22 in 134 ⅓ innings in 24 games while playing for San Diego last year for an annual salary of $4 million and about 5.4 billion won in Hanwha.
Waka, who signed a two-year, $32 million contract with Kansas City ahead of this season, also contributed greatly to Kansas City’s advance to the postseason with 13 wins, 8 losses and a 3.35 ERA in 166 ⅔ innings in 29 games this year.
Initially, Waka could have entered the FA market. The contract with Kansas City included a $16 million player option in 2025. Kansas City moved quickly before the FA market opened in earnest, and by signing an extended contract with Waka, it succeeded in preventing the outflow of power.
Waka is a player who plays various pitches, including his main weapon, change-up, four-seam fastballs, sinkers, cutters, sliders, and curves, and on September 9th, he pitched seven innings of four hits, one walk, seven strikeouts, and no runs against the Minnesota Twins, winning his 100th career victory. His career performance in the Major League is 101-62 with a 3.89 ERA in 1,454 ⅔ innings in 278 games.
He led the Kansas City Royals to a sensation this year, but failed to display notable pitching in the postseason. Waka, who allowed four hits, three walks, three strikeouts and three runs in four innings in Game 1 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees, had to settle for allowing six hits, one walk, two strikeouts and two runs in four ⅔ innings in Game 4 of the Division Series. In the end, the Kansas City Royals knelt down to one win and three losses, failing to advance to the American League Championship Series. 스포츠토토
