Deadspin: Rays secure star RHP Drew Rasmussen for 2027, exercise $20 million option after career-best season

Rays secure Rasmussen for 2027

Tampa Bay exercised Rasmussen’s $20 million club option on Saturday, keeping the right-hander under contract for the 2027 season. The team could instead have paid a $500,000 buyout.

Rasmussen signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal in January 2025 to avoid arbitration. Contract escalators lifted the option’s value from an $8 million starting point to $20 million.

Career-best season in Tampa Bay

Rasmussen, 31, posted a 16-5 record and 2.67 ERA across 30 regular-season starts. He set career highs with 174 strikeouts and 172 innings pitched. He led the American League with a 0.913 WHIP and a 5.44 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the second time in two seasons.

Strong postseason performances

In the 2026 postseason, Rasmussen went 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five starts, covering 28 2/3 innings. He struck out 31 and walked five. Against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, he carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning with two outs. He finished with one hit allowed over eight innings, striking out 10 and walking two in a 1-0 win.

Rasmussen lost Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday, allowing one run and two hits while striking out four in four innings on three days’ rest. The Milwaukee Brewers won 4-1 in St. Petersburg, Fla., to claim their first championship. In Game 2, Rasmussen allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings and received no decision as Milwaukee won 5-4.