December 18th, 2020 share-square-364411 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Rays have signed free agent right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha to a $3 million contract for the 2021 season. The signing brings the 40-man roster to its full capacity. In addition, the Rays have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Chris Ellis on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. Wacha (WAHK-ah), 29, is an eight-year veteran of the St. Louis Cardinals (2013-19) and New York Mets (2020) and owns a career 60-43 record with a 4.01 ERA (901.2-IP, 402-ER) in 173 appearances (158 starts). He is 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA (35-IP, 13-ER) in six career postseason starts, five of which came as a rookie in 2013 when the Cardinals won the National League pennant. This included two scoreless starts opposite Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series. He remains one of four rookies to win Most Valuable Player of a League Championship Series, along with Randy Arozarena in 2020, Liván Hernández of the Florida Marlins in 1997 and Mike Boddicker of the Baltimore Orioles in 1983. His scoreless streak extended to 18.2 innings in the World Series, and it remains the longest postseason scoreless streak by a rookie in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Wacha made the NL All-Star Team in 2015, going 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA (181.1-IP, 68-ER) in 30 starts. In 2018, he went 8-2 with a 3.20 ERA (84.1-IP, 30-ER) in 15 starts.