The Rays haven’t proven any indicators of slowing down. They’ve performed .500 or higher ball in each month and have a 27-17 document for the reason that All-Star Break. Tampa Bay has been atop the AL East for the reason that starting of July and maintain a 4.5 sport cushion on the Yankees for the #1 seed within the American League.
Their speedy focus, after all, is on making a deep postseason run. They’ll have a fast turnaround as soon as the offseason will get underway when different groups inquire in regards to the availability of their ace. Drew Rasmussen ought to rapidly emerge as one of many offseason’s prime commerce candidates.
Rasmussen is within the second season of the two-year, $8.5MM deal he signed in January 2025. That purchased out his remaining arbitration window and gave the Rays one additional season of management within the type of a 2027 membership possibility. The choice got here with an $8MM base wage however included an enormous package deal of escalators — as much as a further $12MM — relying on Rasmussen’s well being for the 2026 marketing campaign.
It was a smart construction for an extremely proficient pitcher whose profession as much as that time had been too regularly interrupted by accidents. The Rays picked up what would begin out as a possible discount possibility. Rasmussen may earn his approach to a mid-rotation starter’s wage with good well being.
The 31-year-old righty has performed simply that. Rasmussen hasn’t spent any time on the injured listing in both of the previous two seasons. His 2025 workload didn’t have a major direct impression on his incomes energy, however reaching 150 innings final yr meant the Rays didn’t have to concern themselves together with his ’26 workload. He has made 26 begins and tallied 146 1/3 innings via the tip of August.
Rasmussen has already elevated the choice worth by $4.5MM for reaching 24 begins. He’s two appearances away from tacking on one other $1.5MM for his twenty eighth outing. Rasmussen may additionally earn one other $6MM primarily based on the period of time he spent this season on the injured listing. He has already tacked on $4.5MM for not struggling an arm damage that value him a minimum of 45 days. He’d make one other $1.5MM if he avoids the IL associated to any arm points in September.
Subsequent yr’s possibility worth has due to this fact already climbed to $17MM. He’s a number of extra weeks of well being away from pushing it to $20MM. (He would additionally have to move a postseason bodily.) Rasmussen wager on himself to remain wholesome and it’ll repay handsomely.
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