The Aporia · AL champion Rays pick up $20 million option on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen for 2027

AL champion Rays pick up $20 million option on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen for 2027

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The Associated Press. (2026, November 1). AL champion Rays pick up $20 million option on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen for 2027. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/al-champion-rays-pick-up-20-million-option-on-ace-pitcher-drew-rasmussen-for-2027/article_7593a7d4-95c4-5272-a95c-5b7e7dbeb7b0.html

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Quick Summary

The Tampa Bay Rays exercised their $20 million option on pitcher Drew Rasmussen for the 2027 season instead of paying him a $500,000 buyout. Rasmussen, who is now 31, had an exceptional 2026 season with a 16-5 record and a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts, contributing significantly to the Rays winning their third American League pennant. This decision locks Rasmussen into a three-year deal worth $28 million, reflecting his value to the team both during the regular season and in the playoffs where he played crucial roles despite facing the challenge of Game 5 of the World Series on short rest.

Written by AI on 2026-11-01, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The AL champion Tampa Bay Rays exercised their $20 million option on November 1, 2026, to retain ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen for the 2027 season. This move was made rather than paying him a $500,000 buyout. Rasmussen's contract now totals $28 million over three seasons after his option price increased from $8 million to $20 million, reflecting his health and performance in 2026. During the regular season, he went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts, contributing significantly to the Rays winning the AL East title. Rasmussen also excelled in the postseason with a 2-1 record and a 2.20 ERA in five starts, including Game 5 of the World Series where he pitched four innings before leaving trailing 1-0 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Written for “Drew Rasmussen Option Picked Up” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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The Associated Press

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Topics

Fla. Milwaukee Rays ST. PETERSBURG Tampa Bay

Subjects

Rasmussen PERSON · 7× Milwaukee ORG · 3× Rays ORG · 3× Tampa Bay ORG · 3× AL East ORG · 1× Brewers ORG · 1× Drew Rasmussen PERSON · 1× Fla. GPE · 1× ST. PETERSBURG GPE · 1× Tampa Bay Rays ORG · 1×

Narrative

But the 2027 option price increased from $8 million to $20 million because Rasmussen remained healthy throughout the 2026 season and made at least 28 starts, making the contract worth $28 million over three seasons.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-01

2026-11-01 · Toronto Star

AL champion Rays pick up $20 million option on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen for 2027 · assertive framing

Claims (17 extracted, 0 hedged)

The AL champion Tampa Bay Rays exercised their $20 million option Saturday on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen. asserted

Rays → exercise → Rasmussen

Tampa Bay picked up the 2027 club option on Rasmussen’s contract rather than pay him a $500,000 buyout. asserted

Bay → pick → buyout

The two-time All-Star can become a free agent after next season. asserted

Star → become → season

Rasmussen earned a $5.5 million salary this year as part of an $8.5 million, two-year deal he and the Rays agreed to in January 2025 to avoid arbitration. asserted

he → earn → arbitration

contract → increase → seasons

The 31-year-old Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts during the regular season, helping the Rays to an AL East title. asserted

Rasmussen → go → title

He was 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five postseason starts as Tampa Bay won its third pennant. asserted

Bay → win → pennant

Rasmussen started Game 5 of the World Series against Milwaukee on three days’ rest and left trailing 1-0 after pitching four innings. asserted

Rasmussen → start → innings

He took the loss as the Brewers won 4-1 to clinch their first championship. asserted

Brewers → take → championship

The right-hander threw 89 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in Game 2, getting a no-decision as Milwaukee rallied for a 5-4 victory and a 2-0 Series lead. asserted

Milwaukee → throw → victory

In his first playoff start this year, Rasmussen took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the New York Yankees and struck out 10 on the way to a 1-0 victory in the Division Series opener. asserted

Rasmussen → take → opener

Rasmussen threw a career-high 172 innings this season and 28 2/3 more in the postseason. asserted

Rasmussen → throw → postseason

He has had three major elbow operations in his career, including Tommy John surgeries in 2016 and 2017 and an internal brace procedure in 2023. asserted

He → have → 2023

He is 46-22 with a 2.83 ERA in 160 major league games, including 111 starts, over seven seasons with Milwaukee and Tampa Bay. asserted

He → include → Milwaukee

On Friday, the Rays declined mutual options on starting pitcher Nick Martinez and outfielder Cedric Mullins. asserted

Rays → decline → Martinez

Martinez, 36, had a $20 million mutual option with a $4 million buyout as part of a $13 million, one-year contract. asserted

Martinez → have → contract

Mullins, 32, had a $7.5 million, one-year deal that included a $10 million mutual option with a $500,000 buyout. asserted

that → have → buyout