ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Robbie Ray #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch to the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field on September 20, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
The Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement with reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray on a contract worth up to five years and $115 million.
The deal was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.com.
Ray's contract includes an opt-out after the third season. Via Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Ray has a full no-trade clause for the first two years of the contract and gets a bonus should he be traded after the first two years.
Ray led the AL last season in innings pitched (193.1), games started (32), strikeouts (248), ERA (2.84) and WHIP (1.045). His 248 strikeouts led all the major leagues.
The performance earned Ray the Cy Young Award in his first and only full season with the Toronto Blue Jays. Ray spent parts of seven seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to the Blue Jays in 2020.
Ray compiled 10 games with double-digit strikeouts, which was the most in MLB. The left-hander had his best season with walks as well, allowing just 52 on the season. He had 70 walks or more in his last four full seasons (2016-19) during his time with the Diamondbacks.
Ray was an All-Star with Arizona in 2017, posting a 15-5 record with a 2.89 ERA. He's had 200-plus strikeouts in four of his last five full seasons. He's also been fairly durable as well starting 32, 28, 24, 33 and 32 games over his last five full seasons (excluding 2020).
Photo Credit: ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Robbie Ray #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch to the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field on September 20, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)