The Kansas City Royals made headlines on Monday by signing former Philadelphia Phillies starter Michael Lorenzen, marking a reunion with the right-hander.
The agreement is a one-year deal worth $7 million guaranteed, with $5.5 million allocated for his pitching duties in 2025 and $1.5 million tied to a potential buyout of a $12 million mutual option for 2026.
Lorenzen, who was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Phillies at the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, made an immediate impact in Philadelphia by throwing a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals in his home debut—a dominant 7-0 victory. This performance, along with his versatility, boosted his reputation as a reliable mid-to-lower-rotation starter.
Before joining the Royals, Lorenzen signed with the Texas Rangers for the 2024 MLB season and was later traded to Kansas City. His brief stint with the Royals was impressive, posting a stellar 1.57 ERA over 28.2 innings. Despite dealing with a hamstring issue that limited his playing time, Lorenzen proved to be an excellent fit for Kansas City, a young team prioritizing financial flexibility.
The 33-year-old offers additional value as a bullpen option, having spent much of his earlier career as a reliever who occasionally made spot starts. In 2022, with the Los Angeles Angels, Lorenzen transitioned to a full-time starter role before being dealt to Philadelphia the following year. By the time of his trade in 2023, he had already logged 105.2 innings with Detroit, surpassing his previous season’s workload as a starter.
Now further along in his evolution as a starting pitcher, Lorenzen has the potential to provide durability and flexibility for the Royals, assuming he remains healthy. His versatility, which intrigued Phillies president Dave Dombrowski at the trade deadline two years ago, continues to make him a valuable asset for Kansas City.
Leave a Reply