Anthony

Kay

The deal was announced last week and is now official. It includes a mutual option for the 2028 season as well. Kay is returning to the U.S. after two seasons in Japan with the Yokohama BayStars. Last season, he registered a 1.74 ERA and a 130/41 K/BB in 155 innings. He should get a shot to fill a spot in the White Sox rotation, but $6 million per season is not the type of money that guarantees him that spot if he doesn’t perform.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan says the deal is worth $12 million. Kay, 30, is returning to the U.S. after two seasons with the Yokohama BayStars. He was one of Japan’s best pitchers last season, finishing with a 1.74 ERA and a 130/41 K/BB in 155 innings. The White Sox will likely include him in their rotation, but the modest deal suggests most teams still didn’t believe in him as a starter.

Kay was arguably the Central League’s best pitcher this year, posting a 1.74 ERA and a 130/41 K/BB in 155 innings for Yokohama. The 30-year-old, who debuted with the Jays in 2019, had a 5.59 ERA and an 88/47 K/BB in 85 1/3 innings over seven starts and 37 relief appearances in MLB before going overseas. There should be quite a bit of interest in him as a groundball-inducing fourth or fifth starter.

Kay heads overseas to Japan after splitting last year between the Cubs and Mets, posting an inflated 6.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 11/9 K/BB ratio across 14 2/3 innings (16 appearances). The 28-year-old lefty was a first-round pick of the Mets back in 2016.

It’s likely that most — if not all — of the hurlers will refuse the outright assignments and elect free agency. There’s something to be said though for a lack of competition, and if they’re serious about securing a spot in a big league bullpen for the 2024 season, the A’s may offer the clearest path to doing so.

The 28-year-old former top prospect has bounced around a lot in recent years, but he should have a chance to compete for a regular job in the Athletics’ bullpen next season. Kay registered a 6.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and an 11/9 K/BB ratio over 15 innings between the Cubs and Mets during the 2023 season.

No surprises here. All six players have the ability to elect free agency, if they pass through waivers unclaimed. Ortega, 32, has his backers, but there’s no reason to keep him on the 40-man roster. He hit .219/.341/.272 with one homer in 136 plate appearances for the Mets.

The Mets claimed the 28-year-old southpaw off of waivers from the Cubs last week and now he’ll get an opportunity to pitch at the big league level for the team that made him a first-round pick (31st overall) in the 2016 draft. Kay posted a 6.35 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and an 8/8 K/BB ratio in 11 1/3 innings with the Cubs this season.

Kay is back where it all started. The Mets drafted Kay in 2016 with the 31st overall pick in the draft. He was later traded to Toronto as part of the package for Marcus Stroman. Things have not gone well for the left-hander this season, pitching to a 6.35 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the Cubs before being demoted. However, Kay did have a 4.10 ERA in 37 1/3 innings at Triple-A this season, so perhaps the Mets can get the best out of him.

Kay was already off the major league roster, having been demoted Sept. 1. The 28-year-old lefty ad a 6.35 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the Cubs this season.