THE APEX TIMES
Tampa Bay has kept its AL-champion rotation anchor in place for another season, picking up the right-hander’s 2027 option following a breakout year and key postseason starts.
The Rays exercised Drew Rasmussen’s $20 million club option for the 2027 season, locking in his salary for next year after a career-best run that included prominent postseason pitching.
Rasmussen’s option is part of an extension he signed in January 2025. The deal guaranteed him $8.5 million, then set up the 2027 club option that began at $8 million with escalators that Rasmussen ultimately maxed out.
On the mound for the American League champion Rays, Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA and 174 strikeouts across 172 innings in 30 regular-season starts. He led the AL with a 0.91 WHIP and reached a career high in innings pitched.
In the postseason, Rasmussen opened his run with three strong starts, then delivered a late-game follow-up in the World Series after being hit for three runs in Game 2. In Game 5, the Rays limited him to one run over four innings in a 4-1 loss to the Brewers.
The team’s decision also reflects the rarity of the price point. The Rays have never paid a player $20 million in a single season, with Charlie Morton’s $15 million mark (2019) previously the franchise high, according to the Rays’ release.
Rasmussen’s path back to ace-level work included two Tommy John surgeries and an internal brace procedure that cost him most of the 2023 season, before he returned in 2024 as a multi-inning reliever/opener. Tampa Bay’s trust in his durability and role is now paired with next year’s ensured salary.
While the Rays have the option secured for 2027, the release notes the offseason business question they still face: whether a team can maintain an ace payroll commitment in a lower-payroll environment.