The agreement is for three years (2025-27) plus a club option for 2028
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Royals have announced a three-year contract with right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha, including a club option for 2028.  Wacha, 33, completed his 12th season in the Majors in 2024 and his first with Kansas City. He made 29 starts, logging 166.2 innings—his second-highest career total and the most since 2015 (181.1 IP). His 3.35 ERA (62 ER in 166.2 IP) in 2024 ranked 10th in the American League, contributing to Kansas City’s starting rotation ranking second in the Majors with a 3.55 ERA. Â
Wacha went 13-8 in 2024 and earned his 100th career win on Sept. 8, joining the ranks of 20 active pitchers with 100 wins. His .620 career win percentage ranks 6th among active pitchers (min. 150 decisions), trailing Clayton Kershaw (.693), Max Scherzer (.659), Gerrit Cole (.657), Justin Verlander (.641), and Chris Sale (.624).
Wacha was especially strong over his last 22 starts in 2024, going 12-4 with a 2.72 ERA (39 ER in 129.0 IP). His .750 win percentage from May 9 through the season’s end was the second-best in the American League, trailing only Tarik Skubal (.778). His ERA ranked 3rd in the AL (min. 20 starts), behind Hunter Brown (2.46) and Skubal (2.46). He allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 16 consecutive starts from May 9 to Aug. 23, matching the single-season franchise record set by Bret Saberhagen during his 1989 Cy Young Award-winning season.
Over the last three seasons (since 2022), Wacha’s 3.30 ERA ranks 20th out of 106 pitchers with at least 300.0 innings pitched, and his 38 wins are tied for 7th most in the Majors. He is one of just eight pitchers with at least 11 wins in each of the last three seasons.
