The Royals have re-signed pitcher Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $7 million contract. ESPN Insider Jeff Passan reported the news Monday afternoon. Also included in the deal is a second-year mutual option worth $12 million. Lorenzen, now 33, pitched with the Royals down the stretch in 2024 to fantastic results. Across seven outings with Kansas City, he pitched to a 1.57 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 28.1 innings. Those numbers were even better than the 3.81 ERA he had posted earlier in the season with the Texas Rangers.

Lorenzen is coming off his second straight season with at least 130 innings pitched. He adds further depth to the Royals’ rotation that already figures to include Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, and Seth Lugo. To this point, the rotation’s final two spots have looked like a competition between Kris Bubic, Alec Marsh, Daniel Lynch IV, and rookie Noah Cameron. With Lorenzen back in the fold, that almost certainly changes the outlook. Lorenzen figures to factor into the back of the rotation as a swing-starter filling time in the rotation and the bullpen. That leaves the fourth spot as a competition between Bubic and Marsh. It makes the possibility of Cameron starting the season back in Omaha almost a certainty, but anything could happen once Spring Training rolls around.

Next up for the Royals, the team will look to finalize their depth on the offense. Joey Wiemer and minor league signings Jordan Groshans and Cavan Biggio have started the work, but more is likely needed for Kansas City before Spring Training rolls around.