The Kansas City Royals and Michael Wacha have agreed to a 3 year $51 million contract with a club option for a fourth year.

Wacha was one of the only players in MLB to strike a deal during the five-day quiet period after the World Series.

Free Agents have the ability to sign with their old team during the quiet period but not any new teams.

After signing a two-year deal with an opt-out before the 2024 season Wacha was expected to opt out but remained in a got rewarded for it as he will make nearly double his career earnings.

In 29 starts this season, Wacha was solid going 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.194 WHIP and 126 ERA +.

“I can’t say enough good things about him as a teammate. I really can’t,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

“He is the most dialed-in pitcher I have ever seen when he’s not pitching. He’s into every pitch. He’s high-fiving guys for keeping the double play in order, for breaking up a double play, for throwing to the right base. He’s into every at-bat when his teammates are up there. He’s looking for things with the other team when he’s on the bench.

Kansas City is Wacha’s sixth team after he made one-year stops in Tampa Bay, New York (Mets), San Deigo, and Boston following his seven-year stint with the Cardinals.

St Louis was where Wacha broke out onto the scene after he went 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in the Cardinals’ run to the 2013 World Series.

Wacha will return to a rotation that is headlined by All Stars Cole Regans and Seth Lugo who combine with him to make a big three.

The Royal’s rotation was a huge piece of their playoff run in 2023 which saw them defeat the Orioles in the Wild Card round before falling to the Yankees in the ALDS.