Michael Wacha Explains Why He Didn’t Re-Sign With Boston

Michael Wacha Explains Why He Didn’t Re-Sign With Boston

Michael Wacha had a really strong 2022 season with the Red Sox (another call by Trey that proved to be correct). However, it never really felt like the team pushed to keep him. Of course, Wacha ended up signing a free agent contract with the Padres late in the offseason. So why didn’t Wacha stick around in Boston? He recently spoke with reporters on that very subject.

VIA Mass Live:

“I don’t know. I guess you might have to ask (Red Sox chief baseball officer) Chaim (Bloom) about that one,” Wacha recently told MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo of not re-signing in Boston. “They were showing interest.

“They reached out, for sure,” he reportedly added. “But just wasn’t able to get something worked out with them. It is what it is, I guess.”

“We were trying to go into free agency looking for a multiyear offer and I wasn’t getting many of those early on,” Wacha told Cotillo. “When the Padres came with theirs, while it was unique, it gave me multiple years. It was on a competitive team that could go out there and make some noise. That was really important to me, as well. Just really excited we were able to get something done.”

I love the part where Wacha basically says go ask Chaim… SMH! In 2022, Wacha went 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts.

Wacha, 31, signed a weird contract with the Padres that basically guarantees him $26 million over the next four years. There are a bunch of options involved that may or may not be picked up. Either way, somehow the Padres are the big spenders on the market and keep landing veteran players like this. The Red Sox are now the Devil Rays. This is somehow the world we now live in.