AL champion Rays pick up $20 million option on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen for 2027
Katherine oversees editorial operations across all six brands. Before joining The Meridan Group, she spent 14 years at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she led the metro desk through its digital transformation. She holds a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School.
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The AL champion Tampa Bay Rays exercised their $20 million option Saturday on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen.Tampa Bay picked up the 2027 club option on Rasmussen's contract rather than pay him a $500,000 buyout. The two-time All-Star can become a free agent after next season.Rasmussen earned a $5.5 million salary this year as part of an $8.5 million, two-year deal he and the Rays agreed to in January 2025 to avoid arbitration. But the 2027 option price increased from $8 million to $20 million because Rasmussen remained healthy throughout the 2026 season and made at least 28 starts, making the contract worth $28 million over three seasons.The 31-year-old Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts during the regular season, helping the Rays to an AL East title. He was 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five postseason starts as Tampa Bay won its third pennant.Rasmussen started Game 5 of the World Series against Milwaukee on three days' rest and left trailing 1-0 after pitching four innings. He to