This could be year for Wacha to plant roots
MINNEAPOLIS — Michael Wacha has taken a series of one-year contracts since playing seven years with the Cardinals. It wasn’t by choice.
“I’d prefer a multiyear deal but never really been offered one,” he said.
Wacha will be a free agent again after this season and should have a chance to put down some roots.
The 31-year-old righthander, who faced the Twins on Wednesday night, is 9-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 16 starts for the Red Sox.
“He’s solid. Not only [on the field] but inside the clubhouse,” manager Alex Cora said Tuesday before the Red Sox’ 10-5 loss to the Twins. “Taking to players in the dugout, he’s awesome. A positive presence.”
Outside of a shoulder strain that cost him roughly eight starts, Wacha has had a strong first season in Boston. He hopes that can continue.
“I’ve loved it here. The staff has been great. The clubhouse and the guys have been great, being around them and learning,” he said. “It’s been a very positive experience.
“I’d most definitely like to stay. I love the city; my family loves the city. Yeah, I can see myself staying here.”
Wacha was in the Cardinals organization for eight years in all. He’s been the new kid in school every year since.
“When you come into a new clubhouse it does take a little bit of time to feel comfortable,” Wacha said. “There’s a learning curve. But getting to know a bunch of different players and work with a bunch of different staff, they all bring something different to the table.”
Wacha had one-year deals with the Mets in 2020 ($3 million), the Rays in 2021 ($3 million), and now the Sox ($7 million). A strong finish to the season would position him to do better than that.
“I try not to think about stuff like that,” Wacha said. “Hopefully when the time comes, I’ll have a decision to make.”
The free agent class could be headlined by veteran stars Jacob degrom and Justin Verlander. Degrom has said he plans to opt out of his deal with the Mets. Verlander has a $25 million player option for 2023 with the Astros.
Two cornerstones with their current teams, Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw and Cardinals righthander Adam Wainwright, are at the end of their deals but are far more likely to stay in place or retire than jump to another team.
Another veteran, Charlie Morton, has made it clear he wants to stay close to his home in Florida. That would probably mean staying with the Braves or returning to the Rays.
That puts Wacha in a group that includes teammate Nate Eovaldi, Chris Bassitt, Mike Clevinger, Sonny Gray, Aaron Nola, Carlos Rodon, Noah Syndergaard, and Jameson Taillon.
Cora would welcome Wacha staying in Boston.
“It would be great,” he said. “I don’t mind managing Michael Wacha. We’ll see what the future holds.”