Wacha signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Royals on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The deal includes an opt out after the first year. Kansas City has been busy lately, adding Seth Lugo and now Wacha to its rotation in addition to Hunter Renfroe to its outfield and Will Smith to its bullpen. Wacha hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2017, but he's been very effective when healthy over the last two seasons, collecting a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 228:74 K:BB over 261.2 innings.

Wacha declined his $6.5 million player option for 2024 on Monday and will become a free agent.

EDGE Analysis

After the Padres informed Wacha that they wouldn't exercise a two-year, $32 million option that would keep him on the books through 2025, the veteran right-hander declined to decline an option of his own, albeit at a less favorable annual salary. Wacha presumably feels he can find a better deal on the open market, a fair conclusion after he turned in a 3.22 ERA (4.30 xERA), 1.16 WHIP and 14.6 K-BB% in 134.1 innings for the Friars in 2023. Durability has been a concern for Wacha for much of his career -- he hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2017 -- so he may not be able to find a team that's willing to sign him to more than a two- or three-year deal as he heads into his age-32 campaign.

The Padres declined Wacha's two-year, $32 million option for 2024-25 on Saturday, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha has a $6.5 million player option for 2024 that he's expected to decline, at which point the pitcher will become a free agent. The right-hander has posted a nifty 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 228:74 K:BB over 261.2 innings covering the last two seasons. He hasn't made more than 24 starts in a season since 2017, though, and the Padres decided he wasn't worth the risk as they look to trim payroll.

Wacha (14-4) earned the win Saturday, allowing three hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the White Sox. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old scattered three singles and needed just 87 pitches to complete seven scoreless innings en route to his 14th victory of the campaign. Outside of a recent seven-run start against the Dodgers, Wacha compiled a 6-1 record with a 2.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across 44.2 innings after returning from a shoulder injury Aug. 15. Building upon a resurgent 2022 season for the Red Sox, the right-hander's first year in San Diego concludes with a 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 124:43 K:BB across 134.1 innings with his highest win total since Wacha went 17-7 in 2015.

Wacha (13-4) yielded two runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings Sunday, striking out six and picking up a win over St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha rolled through six shutout frames before the Cardinals finally broke through with two runs in the seventh inning. The Padres had already provided 12 runs of support before then. Wacha earned his second straight win and lowered his season ERA to 3.39 across 127.1 frames. However, he owns a 5.54 ERA in five September outings. Wacha is projected to close out his 2023 season with a road start against the White Sox.

Wacha (12-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out six without walking a batter over five innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha departed with a comfortable 11-3 lead in the contest, though the Padres' bullpen allowed six runs to score. Wacha has given up at least three runs in four of his last five outings, and he's completing six innings in just one of them. It's a noticeable drop in quality from what he was doing in May and June prior to a shoulder injury. Wacha is at a 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 111:41 K:BB through 120.1 innings through 22 starts this season. The veteran righty is lined up for a home start against one of his former teams, the Cardinals, over the weekend.

Wacha (11-4) allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha matched his season low in innings while also equaling his season high in runs allowed. He also gave up multiple home runs for just the third time in 21 starts. The poor outing accounted for his second loss in a row, and he's allowed 10 runs over eight innings in that shaky span. For the year, he's at a 3.43 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 105:41 K:BB over 115.1 innings. Considering he's gone five years without tossing more than 130 innings, he may be wearing down as the campaign winds to a close. Wacha is projected for a home start versus the Rockies next week.

Wacha (11-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings against Philadelphia. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha struggled from the start Wednesday, surrendering a lead-off homer to Kyle Schwarber in the first inning. The 32-year-old Wacha had been pitching well since returning from the IL on Aug. 15, working to a 2.91 ERA over his prior four starts. He now sports a 2.99 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and 102:38 K:BB across 20 starts (111.1 innings) this season. He'll look to right the ship in his next outing, currently scheduled for early next week against the Dodgers.

Wacha allowed four runs on four hits and five walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha was responsible for the first two runs of the Brewers' seven-run rally in the sixth inning, but Steven Wilson ended up on the hook for the loss. Wacha matched his season high with five walks, and this was the first time since April 20 that he's allowed more than three runs. The veteran right-hander is now at a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 90:33 K:BB through 101.1 innings across 18 starts this season. Given how well he's pitching for the majority of the season, there's little reason to be concerned heading into his next projected start at home versus the Giants.

Wacha improved to 10-2 with a win over Miami on Monday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over 5.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

In his second start since coming off the injured list Aug. 15, Wacha shut down the Marlins for five innings until Josh Bell tagged him for s solo homer in the sixth. That long ball was the only extra-base hit Wacha gave up in the outing, and he emerged with his 10th victory of the campaign. The right-hander has shown no signs of rust since rejoining the rotation, yielding just the one run over 10.1 frames while posting a 12:3 K:BB and picking up a pair of wins.