Michael Lorenzen Landing Spots: 3 best fits for All-Star righty after Royals decline $12M mutual option

Michael Lorenzen is a free agent again after the Royals passed on the $12 million mutual option in his deal in November. The move wasn’t likely about his durability but a pricing call from a team still managing its payroll carefully.

Lorenzen gave Kansas City what teams usually ask for on short-term pitching deals, and that was his availability.

He made 27 appearances last season, including 26 starts, and logged 141.2 innings while bouncing through a rotation that dealt with inconsistency and injuries. The results were uneven at times; however, he took the ball and kept the staff functional.

Lorenzen can start, adjust roles and doesn’t require perfect conditions to be useful at this stage of his career. His versatility still has value, especially for teams prioritizing coverage over upside when building the back half of a pitching staff.

Here are three teams that value flexibility more than ceiling at the back of the rotation.

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#1. Kansas City Royals

A return to Kansas City shouldn’t be ruled out just because the option was declined. It looks more like a pricing decision rather than a performance-based one.

The Royals got decent innings from Michael Lorenzen and that matters to a team still managing young arms and limited rotation depth.

If Kansas City wants to bring him back on a shorter deal or with incentives, the fit is already proven. Lorenzen understands the environment, expectations and role flexibility the team asked of him last season.

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#2 LA Angels

The Angels remain one of the most logical landing spots for pitchers who can provide innings without demanding a long-term commitment.

Lorenzen has handled rotation work, swing roles and short-term fixes before and he doesn’t come with development pressure attached.

LA likely wants to avoid leaning too heavily on untested arms. Lorenzen is a middle-ground option who can cover innings without forcing the roster into tough decisions.

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#3. Texas Rangers

Texas makes sense if it’s looking for rotation insurance rather than a lock-in starter. Michael Lorenzen can open the year in the rotation, move into a flexible role or step back in if injuries create gaps.

That kind of adaptability plays well for teams with postseason expectations and weak depth. He has shown that he can handle a starter’s workload over a full season, even if the results fluctuate.

This would be a low-noise move for the Rangers, aimed at preserving stability rather than chasing upside.

Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez