AL champion Rays pick up $20 million option on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen for 2027

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The AL champion Tampa Bay Rays exercised their $20 million option Saturday on ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen.Tampa Bay picked up the 2027 club option on Rasmussen's contract rather than pay him a $500,000 buyout. The two-time All-Star can become a free agent after next season.Rasmussen earned a $5.5 million salary this year as part of an $8.5 million, two-year deal he and the Rays agreed to in January 2025 to avoid arbitration. But the 2027 option price increased from $8 million to $20 million because Rasmussen remained healthy throughout the 2026 season and made at least 28 starts, making the contract worth $28 million over three seasons.The 31-year-old Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts during the regular season, helping the Rays to an AL East title. He was 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five postseason starts as Tampa Bay won its third pennant.Rasmussen started Game 5 of the World Series against Milwaukee on three days' rest and left trailing 1-0 after