The Kansas City Royals have made a big move in the MLB offseason, signing former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha to a two-year, $32 million deal. The deal was first reported by AP sources on Tuesday.
Wacha, 29, is coming off a successful 2019 season with the Cardinals, where he posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 24 starts. He also struck out 140 batters in 144.1 innings. Wacha has been a reliable starter for the Cardinals since his MLB debut in 2013, and the Royals are hoping he can bring that same consistency to their rotation.
The Royals also signed outfielder Hunter Renfroe to a one-year, $13 million contract. Renfroe, 28, had a breakout season with the San Diego Padres in 2019, hitting .216/.289/.489 with 33 home runs and an OPS+ of 121. Renfroe is expected to provide some much-needed power to the Royals’ lineup, and he should be a nice complement to the team’s other outfielders.
The Royals have been busy this offseason, making several moves to bolster their roster. With the addition of Wacha and Renfroe, they have added two key pieces to their team and are hoping they can help them make a run at the playoffs in 2020. Only time will tell if these moves will pay off, but the Royals are certainly making a statement that they are serious about competing this season.
