After a successful stint with the Royals, Michael Lorenzen is coming back to Kansas City. Lorenzen reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Royals, and will get at least $7MM from the team.
A Look at Lorenzen
Last season was a successful one for Michael Lorenzen, who signed with the Rangers on March 22, just before Texas’ first game of the year. Lorenzen posted a solid 3.81 ERA with Texas, before he was dealt in July for Walter Pennington. With the Royals, the 33-year-old struck out 22 over 28.2 IP and recorded a 1.57 ERA.
He also worked 2.1 innings in the postseason for the Royals, working out of the bullpen.
Lorenzen isn’t a big swing-and-miss guy. The veteran starter is more a “kitchen sink” starter, as he’ll regularly operate with seven different pitches and doesn’t throw too hard. Last season, his four-seamer and two-seamer sat in the low-to-mid-90s. His four-seamer had roughly league-average IVB (15.6”).
The key pitch to Lorenzen’s arsenal is the changeup. It’s an offering that sits in the 83-85 MPH range, roughly eight to 10 MPH slower than his four-seamer and sinker. Based off his pitch movement profile, one can see how the shape of the change mirrors his sinker.
His changeup has above-average run and it proved to be crucial to his success in 2024. Last season, opposing batters hit .122 off it with a 37.3% Whiff%.
The one other component game to Lorenzen’s game is that he can give hitters a lot of different looks, which does help when it comes to getting hitters to chase. Lorenzen generally likes to work outside of the zone, as he’s thrown less than 50% of his pitches out of the zone in three of the last four seasons.
While that strategy, when executed well, can work great, it can also lead to walks. Lorenzen had a BB% north of 10% in four of the last five seasons.
Per Spotrac, Michael Lorenzen’s deal with the Royals includes $5.5MM as the base salary in 2025. His contract includes a $12MM mutual option for 2026, with a $1.5MM buyout.
Analysis
The Royals got great returns from Lorenzen, and Kansas City will look to run it back in 2025.
With Brady Singer gone thanks to an offseason trade with the Reds, the Royals could use Lorenzen to fill out their rotation. Right now, their tentative rotation includes Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Lorenzen, plus either Alec Marsh, Kyle Wright, or Kris Bubic.
Lorezen gets an increase in salary after last season, up from the $4.5MM he received from Texas last season. It also came after reports his agent was looking to leverage teams on his two-way ability to get around roster requirements. However, Lorenzen, who also played outfield with the Reds, hasn’t played the field since 2021.
Should the Royals go that route, Lorenzen would have to play the field or DH in 20 games, and get three or more plate appearances in said games.