MLB News: Michael Lorenzen, Royals Reportedly Agree to $7M Contract with Option

Michael Lorenzen is staying with the Kansas City Royals.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the right-handed starter agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with the Royals that includes a second-year mutual option for $12 million.

Lorenzen started the 2024 season with the Texas Rangers but was acquired by Kansas City in July.

Lorenzen, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, has been a journeyman over the past few years, playing for five different teams since 2022. He was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2023 season before last year's trade to the Royals, meaning he was on four different rosters in the same calendar year.

He'll now get to stay in Kansas City for at least one more year as he looks to put together a strong second season with the Royals.

Before being traded to Kansas City last year, Lorenzen had a 3.81 ERA in 19 games with the Rangers. He closed out the season well, posting a 1.57 ERA with a 2-0 record in seven games with the Royals.

He came out of the bullpen in two postseason games to record a 3.86 ERA as Kansas City fell to the New York Yankees in the American League divisional series.

Lorenzen started his career as a starting pitcher for the Reds in 2015 but proceeded to spend the next six seasons mainly as a reliever. That changed in 2022 when he joined the Los Angeles Angels and returned to a starting role, posting a 4.24 ERA and 18 starts. The following year, he was an All-Star with the Tigers as he recorded a 3.58 ERA before the trade to the Phillies.

He's spent the last few years mostly in a starting role, but still occasionally comes out of the bullpen, making him a versatile option for the Royals as they look to build off of their first postseason appearance since 2015.