Inside The Padres

Padres News: Michael Wacha Talks About Why He Signed with Friars

New Padres pitcher Michael Wacha talked to the media about why he chose San Diego and the team's growing reputation around the league.

Jeff Snider

Padres News: Michael Wacha Talks About Why He Signed with Friars
Padres News: Michael Wacha Talks About Why He Signed with Friars /

The Padres signed Michael Wacha this week to a convoluted deal that could be anywhere from one year to four years, with team options and player options and incentive clauses and everything else you could ever want in a contract. Wacha is in spring training camp with San Diego and met with the media on Thursday.

Wacha was asked why he chose to sign with the Friars, and his answer was pretty straightforward:

"I think, just kind of the fit. I want to win. I want to have a chance to make a run in the postseason and win a championship. That's why I'm here. I want a ring, and I want to help bring a championship to San Diego, and that's what our expectations are."

Wacha also talked about the perception and reputation the Padres have around the league.

"The whole league has kind of been put on notice about what’s been brewing down in San Diego. AJ [Preller] has been putting together a heck of a team with the ownership, and yeah, it's a lot of expectations, but that's where we want to be. We want to have those expectations and go out there and have everyone's best shot but know that we can come out on top."

Wacha had a resurgent year in Boston in 2022, going 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts after posting a 4.62 ERA over his previous six seasons. He joins a starting staff that has star power in Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove, but if he can replicate last year's success, he could be a sneaky good addition at the back of the rotation.

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Jeff Snider
JEFF SNIDER

Jeff is a lifelong baseball fan born and raised in Lake Elsinore, now home of the Padres Low-A minor-league affiliate. He's been writing about baseball professionally since 2015. He played for the Padres for two years in Little League, and he still misses the churros at the old Jack Murphy Stadium.

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