The Rays have exercised their club option on right-hander Drew Rasmussen for 2027, per a team announcement. MLB Trade Rumors' Connor Byrne reports that Rasmussen is in line to earn $20 million next season. Byrne calls it a "slam-dunk decision" for the 2026 American League champions and says Rasmussen has become one of the majors' best starters over the past few years. MLB.com's Brian Murphy framed the move around a "stellar season" and "playoff heroics." The feed summaries we have don't say what those heroics were, so we aren't describing them.
The regular-season numbers support the description. Rasmussen made 30 starts in 2026 and threw 172.0 innings with a 2.67 ERA, 16 wins against 5 losses and 174 strikeouts. He walked 32 batters, and his WHIP was 0.91. Opponents hit .199 against him.
He has also gained durability. His 172.0 innings are the most in our archive for any of his seasons. In 2025 he threw 150.0 innings with a 2.76 ERA and 127 strikeouts. His strikeouts rose by 47 this year, and he pitched 22 more innings than he did in 2025. His ERA has been between 2.62 and 2.84 in every season since 2021 except the shortened 2024. That is the track record behind the $20 million price. None of the outlets give the contract's other terms, such as a buyout, so we can't say what the option was worth to either side beyond the salary.
| G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 172.0 | 16 | 5 | 2.67 | 174 |
The Rays finished 98-64 and won the AL East. They are now in a series with Milwaukee that has not gone their way. Tampa Bay lost 10-1 on Monday, Oct. 26, won 4-3 on Tuesday and lost 4-1 on Wednesday, Oct. 28. They carry a one-game losing streak into the next game. Our archive shows the next game at Milwaukee on Saturday, Oct. 31, listed as not started.
The Rays announced the option as that series was still going. It also settles who anchors their rotation for 2027, and the club won't need to revisit that decision this offseason. Next up for Tampa Bay is the road trip to Milwaukee.
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