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Padres add free agent Michael Wacha to starting rotation

steve gardner, usa today
·3 min read
5

The San Diego Padres certainly aren't acting like a small-market MLB team.

Coming off their first playoff appearance in a full season since 2006, the Padres are adding another free agent to the roster, coming to an agreement with right-hander Michael Wacha that guarantees him $26 million over four seasons and could be worth $39 million over three years.

“The league has been put on notice about what’s been brewing down in San Diego,” Wacha said.

Wacha, 31, posted a 3.32 ERA and 1.12 WHIP last season for the Boston Red Sox.

The 10-year veteran has also previously played for the Cardinals, Mets and Rays.

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Where does Michael Wacha fit in the Padres rotation?

Wacha is likely to serve as San Diego's fourth or fifth starter behind Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Blake Snell.

The Padres also have right-hander Nick Martinez, who bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen last season. And the club had planned to give free-agent righty Seth Lugo an opportunity to start this season after he spent the majority of his career with the New York Mets as a reliever.

Wacha has not been terribly durable during his major league career -- not surpassing 130 innings in a season since 2017 -- but he's healthy entering spring training and is a good bet to be in the Padres' opening day rotation.

What other free agents have the Padres signed this offseason?

It's been a busy winter for the San Diego front office. GM A.J. Preller's top achievement has been the signing of free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts -- Wacha's teammate last year in Boston -- to an 11-year, $280 million contract.

The Padres previously added veteran DH Nelson Cruz, OF Adam Engel, OF/IF Matt Carpenter and Lugo on one-year deals.

In addition, the club also signed their ace, Darvish, to a six-year, $108 million contract extension that will take him through the 2028 season.

Which MLB teams have the highest projected payrolls for 2023?

In his only season in Boston, Michael Wacha went 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 127 1/3 innings.
In his only season in Boston, Michael Wacha went 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 127 1/3 innings.

Once Wacha's contract is finalized, the Padres will inch ever closer to the No. 2 New York Yankees in projected payroll for the upcoming season.

According to Spotrac, the teams with the five highest total payrolls for 2023:

  1. New York Mets: $330.6 million

  2. New York Yankees: $267.9 million

  3. San Diego Padres: $243.6 million

  4. Philadelphia Phillies: $229.2 million

  5. Los Angeles Dodgers: $216.4 million

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RHP Michael Wacha joining San Diego Padres