The Rays exercised Rasmussen's $20 million club option for the 2027 season Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rasmussen made 30 starts in the regular season and spent fewer than 45 days on the injured list in 2026, triggering escalators that elevated the value of his option from $8 million to $20 million. The Rays' decision to bring the 31-year-old back for another season was likely easy despite the price increase, as he posted a 2.67 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 172 regular-season innings. He also allowed just seven runs in 28.2 frames during the postseason while helping the Rays secure their second American League pennant in seven seasons.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Takes loss in Game 5
Rotowire
Rasmussen was charged with the loss in Game 5 of the World Series against the Brewers on Wednesday. He gave up one run on two hits with four strikeouts and no walks over four innings.
Pitching on short rest after Tampa Bay avoided a sweep Tuesday, Rasmussen gave his club a chance in Game 5 with four strong innings, but the Rays offense never found any traction. The right-hander surrendered just seven runs with a 31:5 K:BB across 28.2 innings during the playoffs. Rasmussen has a $20 million club option for 2027, which the Rays are likely to exercise after he posted a 2.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 174:32 K:BB over a career-high 172 innings during the regular season.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Tapped for Game 5 start
Rotowire
Rasmussen will start Wednesday in Game 5 of the World Series against the Brewers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He'll be taking the ball on three days' rest after throwing 89 pitches over 3.2 innings in Game 2 on Saturday. Rasmussen was knocked around for three runs on six hits and two walks in that outing, but the righty was dominant in his first three starts this postseason in holding a 1.29 ERA with a 23:3 K:BB in 21 frames. He will be opposed by National League Cy Young front-runner Jacob Misiorowski.
Rasmussen didn't factor into the decision in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 3.2 innings.
Rasmussen was dominant in his first three playoff starts with just three runs allowed and a 23:3 K:BB across 21 innings, but Milwaukee quickly showed why it was able to sweep the Dodgers in the NLCS. The 31-year-old righty was handed a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Brewers got two runs back in the bottom of the frame and scored another in the fourth, chasing him after 89 pitches (56 strikes). Rasmussen now lines up to start a possible Game 6 on Friday, but the Rays will need to win at least two of three games in Tampa Bay to force the series back to Milwaukee.
Rasmussen earned the win in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.
It was another strong showing from Rasmussen, who has surrendered just three earned runs over 21 frames in three playoffs starts and has given up two runs or fewer in each of his past nine outings dating back to Aug. 24. The right-hander has blossomed into an ace, and Sunday's performance puts Tampa Bay one victory away from making the World Series.
Rasmussen didn't factor in the decision in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday, allowing two runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and no walks over six innings.
After striking out 10 and allowing just one hit across eight scoreless frames against the Yankees in the ALDS, Rasmussen wasn't quite able to replicate that performance to begin the championship series. Still, it was a good showing from the right-hander, who departed after serving up a leadoff homer to Patrick Bailey to begin the seventh inning, which tied the game 2-2. Rasmussen has a 1.29 ERA and 17:2 K:BB across 14 innings through his first two starts of the playoffs and tentatively lines up to take the ball in Game 5 at Cleveland on Saturday.
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