The Mariners add another strong player as they reach an agreement with free agent pitcher and Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray:

Ray went from one of the worst starting pitchers in the majors in 2020 to the best in the American League in 2021, winning American League Cy Young honors after going 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA for the Toronto Blue Jays and leading the AL in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts and WHIP. Ray had been a free agent after the 2020 season, but after leading the majors with 45 walks in 51? innings between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Blue Jays and posting a 6.64 ERA, he re-signed with Toronto on a one-year, $8 million contract.

ESPN.com

It looks like the Mariners believe that Ray’s poor 2020 season was a fluke and that his Cy Young year is closer to his actual value going forward. He had five good seasons (WAR of at least two) out of eight, so that’s not a bad bet. For the third time today, a team raised the bar on the value of a free agent. However the CBA turns out, it looks like the remaining free agents can start asking for a higher dollar amount per WAR.