Major League Baseball announced the winners of the 2021 MVP awards. Shohei Ohtani won the American League MVP while Bryce Harper won the National League MVP.
Reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray and the Seattle Mariners are reportedly finalizing a five-year, $115 million deal, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The deal, Passan reported, will have an opt-out after the third season.
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The Toronto Blue Jays will also receive draft-pick compensation as Ray rejected the team's qualifying offer earlier this month.
Ray, who turned 30 last month, had a terrific year with the Blue Jays in 2021, going 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 248 strikeouts over 32 starts (193 1/3 innings). Ray led the AL in ERA, starts, innings, WHIP and strikeouts.
This deal comes just two days after Seattle traded for 2021 All-Star second baseman/outfielder Adam Frazier from the San Diego Padres and a day after the Blue Jays signed Kevin Gausman to a five-year, $110 million contract.
The Mariners finished second in the American League West with a 90-72 record and their offseason moves shows that they are making a solid push for the upcoming season.
