September just kicked off, and the Tampa Bay Rays are sitting pretty atop the American League East. You’d think everything would be sunshine and good vibes, right? Wrong. Their star pitcher, Drew Rasmussen, an All-Star with a ridiculous 2.95 ERA this season, might actually get traded away. Yeah, you read that right. Despite being a huge contributor to their success, his dominance could be a massive headache for the Rays because of his 2027 club option.
The Escalating Price Tag Nobody Expected
This isn’t some tiny pay bump. Rasmussen’s two-year, $8.5 million deal had an $8 million option for 2027, but thanks to escalators for games started and time *not* on the injured list, that sucker is already at $18.5 million! Mark Feinsand from MLB.com laid it out, and honestly, it’s wild. That $18.5 million is already more than the Rays have *ever* paid a player for a single year. Charlie Morton’s $15 million in 2019 and 2020 was their previous high watermark. Think about that for a second. And get this: if Rasmussen keeps making his starts and stays healthy through the rest of the year, that option jumps all the way to $20 million. Twenty. Million. Dollars. For one year! By their standards, that’s like breaking the bank and then some.
To Keep Or Cut Loose: A $20M Dilemma
So, what’s the deal here? Feinsand noted the Rays might exercise the option and *then* look to trade Rasmussen if the price is “outside of the club’s comfort zone.” But come on, this dude is 31 years old, has a stellar 2.95 ERA this season, and hasn’t posted an ERA in the 3.00s since he became a starter back in 2021. The guy has been one of MLB’s best pitchers for the last five years! Trading him would be a huge loss for the franchise, no doubt about it. Yeah, sure, spending that much on one player when you’ve got a limited budget is a risk. But some risks are worth taking, especially when you’ve got an All-Star ace who’s consistently dominant. This feels like the exact player you *should* be spending big on if you ever want to break your own spending habits.
Honestly, there shouldn’t be a world where the Rays don’t pick up that 2027 option. The absolute worst outcome is they pick it up and then flip him for a massive haul. But ideally, they keep Rasmussen. He’s a legit ace, and with them sitting atop the AL East, you gotta wonder if they’re really going to let a $20 million decision derail their chances with one of their best contributors. This isn’t just a contract; it’s a test of whether they’re serious about competing long-term with their top talent. What will they do?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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