Anthony Kay, a former Toronto Blue Jay, is a champion.

On Sunday, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars won the Nippon Baseball League’s Japan Series, defeating the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in six games.
Game 4 on Wednesday saw Kay pitch, finishing the game with seven innings pitched, no runs allowed, four hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts in 102 pitches. Moreover, the lefty generated 15 whiffs in what was a terrific outing.
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The Blue Jays acquired Kay from the Mets before the 2019 trade deadline, along with Simeon Woods Richardson, for Marcus Stroman. In parts of four seasons for Toronto, the lefty had a 5.48 ERA and a 4.67 FIP in 70.2 innings pitched, with a 23.6 K% and an 11.6 BB%.
Kay was designated for assignment after the 2022 season, being picked up by the Chicago Cubs. He split his time between the Cubs and Mets in 2023, posting a 6.14 ERA and a 5.78 FIP in 14.2 innings pitched. 
<h2>Brewers decline Devin Williams’ team option</h2>
On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Milwaukee Brewers declined Devin Williams’ club option for $10.5 million, for a $250,000 buyout.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The Milwaukee Brewers declined closer Devin Williams&#39; club option for $10.5 million, source tells ESPN. He&#39;ll receive a $250,000 buyout. Williams remains with the Brewers, will be in his final year of arbitration and is expected to make $8-9 million. He&#39;s a trade candidate, too.
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1853156922997756139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That doesn’t mean Williams is no longer a Brewer, for now at least, as he’ll have his final season of arbitration this off-season. More importantly, Passan reported that he’s a trade candidate as well and would realistically be perfect for the Blue Jays.
Williams is one of the best closers in the game, posting a 1.25 ERA and a 2.06 FIP in 21.2 innings last season, along with a 43.2 K% and a 12.5 BB%. Just over 20 innings is a small sample size, right? Well, he has a career 1.83 ERA and a 2.39 FIP in 235.2 innings pitched, with a 39.4 K% and an 11.8 BB%.
If available, the bullpen-starved Blue Jays should be doing everything they can to acquire him.
<h2>Michael Wacha signed a three-year extension with the Royals</h2>
According to Jeff Passan, Michael Wacha signed an extension with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. It’s a three-year deal worth $51 million but has a team option for the fourth year. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Right-hander Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a three-year, $51 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a club option and can max out at four years, $72 million.
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1853151543853277455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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It’s been a long while since Wacha has had a stable franchise, as he spent the first seven seasons of his career with the St. Louis Blues. Since the start of the 2020 season, he’s played for the New York Mets (2020), Tampa Bay Rays (2021), Boston Red Sox (2022), San Diego Padres (2023), and Royals in 2024.
Last season with the Royals, Wacha had a 3.35 ERA and a 3.65 FIP in 166.2 innings pitched, with a 21.2 K% and a 6.6 BB% as the Royals made the postseason for the first time since 2016. In the playoffs, Wacha had a 5.19 ERA and a 4.90 FIP in 8.2 innings pitched as the Royals fell to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
Since the beginning of the 2022 season, Wacha has a 3.30 ERA and a 3.87 FIP in 428.1 innings pitched, along with a 21.3 K% and a 6.8 BB%.
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As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Anthony Kay, a former Toronto Blue Jay, is a champion.



On Sunday, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars won the Nippon Baseball League’s Japan Series, defeating the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in six games.

Game 4 on Wednesday saw Kay pitch, finishing the game with seven innings pitched, no runs allowed, four hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts in 102 pitches. Moreover, the lefty generated 15 whiffs in what was a terrific outing.

&nbsp;

The Blue Jays acquired Kay from the Mets before the 2019 trade deadline, along with Simeon Woods Richardson, for Marcus Stroman. In parts of four seasons for Toronto, the lefty had a 5.48 ERA and a 4.67 FIP in 70.2 innings pitched, with a 23.6 K% and an 11.6 BB%.

Kay was designated for assignment after the 2022 season, being picked up by the Chicago Cubs. He split his time between the Cubs and Mets in 2023, posting a 6.14 ERA and a 5.78 FIP in 14.2 innings pitched. 
<h2>Brewers decline Devin Williams’ team option</h2>
On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Milwaukee Brewers declined Devin Williams’ club option for $10.5 million, for a $250,000 buyout.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1853156922997756139

That doesn’t mean Williams is no longer a Brewer, for now at least, as he’ll have his final season of arbitration this off-season. More importantly, Passan reported that he’s a trade candidate as well and would realistically be perfect for the Blue Jays.

Williams is one of the best closers in the game, posting a 1.25 ERA and a 2.06 FIP in 21.2 innings last season, along with a 43.2 K% and a 12.5 BB%. Just over 20 innings is a small sample size, right? Well, he has a career 1.83 ERA and a 2.39 FIP in 235.2 innings pitched, with a 39.4 K% and an 11.8 BB%.

If available, the bullpen-starved Blue Jays should be doing everything they can to acquire him.
<h2>Michael Wacha signed a three-year extension with the Royals</h2>
According to Jeff Passan, Michael Wacha signed an extension with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. It’s a three-year deal worth $51 million but has a team option for the fourth year. 

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1853151543853277455

&nbsp;

It’s been a long while since Wacha has had a stable franchise, as he spent the first seven seasons of his career with the St. Louis Blues. Since the start of the 2020 season, he’s played for the New York Mets (2020), Tampa Bay Rays (2021), Boston Red Sox (2022), San Diego Padres (2023), and Royals in 2024.

Last season with the Royals, Wacha had a 3.35 ERA and a 3.65 FIP in 166.2 innings pitched, with a 21.2 K% and a 6.6 BB% as the Royals made the postseason for the first time since 2016. In the playoffs, Wacha had a 5.19 ERA and a 4.90 FIP in 8.2 innings pitched as the Royals fell to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.

Since the beginning of the 2022 season, Wacha has a 3.30 ERA and a 3.87 FIP in 428.1 innings pitched, along with a 21.3 K% and a 6.8 BB%.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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