Robbie Ray finalizes a five-year, $ 115 million contract to sign with the Seattle Mariners

It seems that Robbie Ray has found a new home.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the reigning AL Cy Young winner with the Blue Jays last season is finalizing a five-year, $ 115 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.

The deal comes a day after the Blue Jays settled with Kevin Gausman for five years and $ 110 million.

Ray, who turned 30 on October 1, was 13-7 for the Toronto Blue Jays last season with an average of 2.84 earned runs and 248 strikeouts in 193.1 innings pitched.

Based on Fangraphs’ wins over replacement, his 3.9 WAR was the sixth-most in starters in the American League. His 32 starts tied most of the American League as he led the league in innings pitched, ERA, strikeouts and WHIP.

An official announcement about the signing could come as early as Tuesday afternoon. Sources said Ray was flying to Seattle on Monday night and would undergo a physical exam Tuesday morning before signing a contract that includes an opt-out clause after three years and other bonuses as well.

That year was a sharp turnaround after a dismal 2020 when he led the majors in walks and went 2-5 with a 6.62 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Blue Jays during the pandemic-shortened season.

Ray immediately becomes the ace of Seattle’s staff. The staff includes Marco Gonzales, Chris Flexen and Logan Gilbert under contract for the 2022 season for a rising Mariners team that went 90-72 last season and just missed the club’s 20-year playoff drought.

Ray is the second Toronto staff pitcher from 2021 to come out in free agency. The St. Louis Cardinals and Steven Matz ended a four-year, $ 44 million contract on Monday.

And according to reports on Sunday, Marcus Semien agreed to a seven-year, 175 million contract with Texas after a stellar year in Toronto in which he was named a finalist for the AL MVP award.