3 Rays players who won't be back next season

3 Rays players who won’t be back next season

Oct 10, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) checks on relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the 2021 ALDS at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

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Michael Wacha

The Rays decided to bring in right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha on a one-year, $3 million contract last offseason. Wacha was coming off a rather disastrous 2020 truncated season with the New York Mets, where he posted a 6.62 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in eight games.

Wacha played in 29 regular-season games with the Rays, where he recorded 5.05 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, 121 strikeouts and 31 walks over 124.2 innings of work.

Wacha made one appearance in Tampa Bay’s short stint in the postseason, and that occurred in Game 2 this past Friday. With the team trailing 8-6 on the night, Wacha entered in the top of the seventh inning and surrendered six earned runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings. One of those hits was a two-run homer by Boston third baseman Rafael Devers in the eighth inning.

Much like Cruz and Archer, Wacha is set to become a free agent. Given his bloated ERA’s over the past two seasons, it would not be shocking to see the Rays look elsewhere for pitching depth.

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