Report: Royals re-sign Lorenzen to 1-year, $7M deal

Michael Lorenzen is returning to the Kansas City Royals on a one-year deal worth $7 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The contract includes a $12-million mutual option for 2026, Passan reports.

Lorenzen will be paid $5.5 million in 2025 and gets $1.5 million as a buyout on the 2026 option, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. He can also earn another $1 million through incentives.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen’s one-year, $7 million contract with the Kansas City Royals contains up to $2.5 million in bonuses, per source.
⁰$250,000 each for 100, 125 innings pitched.⁰$500,000 each for 150, 175 innings pitched.⁰ ⁰$100,000 for 10 games as a pitcher.…
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 8, 2025

The 33-year-old pitched to a 3.31 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 26 appearances (24 starts) split between the Texas Rangers and Royals in 2024.

He authored one of the finest stretches of his career with Kansas City after being acquired via trade, recording a sparkling 1.57 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 28 2/3 innings.

The righty should slot in where he left off in the Royals' rotation behind Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha.

Lorenzen has also pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angles, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

He owns a 3.99 ERA (107 ERA+) through 10 MLB seasons.