Michael Lorenzen makes feelings clear on fellow veteran pitchers Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha in light of re-signing with Royals for $7,000,000

The Kansas City Royals solidified their rotation by re-signing veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $7 million deal, including a mutual option for 2026 and performance bonuses of about $2.5 million.

Lorenzen, acquired from the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline last season, made an immediate impact with a 2-0 record and a 1.57 ERA over six starts and one relief appearance.

Reflecting on his relationship with fellow pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, Lorenzen expressed high praise for both players during an interview with MLB Network on Friday.

"It's good, man. You know, I've known Walker since college, so it's always good to have that familiarity with him," Lorenzen said. "And then Lugo — I never met him until I got traded over to Kansas City — but I've obviously seen his work and have been impressed. Behind the scenes, he's a baseball player through and through."

"I just love guys that love baseball. He’s reading swings, and I just love the way he talks about the game. You know, all of us scout, and we all kind of scout with our own little angles of what we like to look at. But it's also good to see different perspectives from guys who have a ton of experience."

Michael Lorenzen re-signs with Royals with lucrative incentives

Michael Lorenzen is happy to return to Kansas City as he aims to help the team build upon their 2024 postseason appearance.

Lorenzen, who will earn $5.5 million in 2025, has a $12 million mutual option for 2026 with a $1.5 million buyout. The deal also features performance bonuses tied to innings pitched, offering $250,000 each for reaching 100 and 125 innings, and $500,000 apiece for hitting 150 and 175 innings.

Additionally, he can earn $1 million through pitching appearances, with payouts ranging from $100,000 for 10 appearances to $250,000 for reaching milestones like 25, 30 and 40 appearances.

Beyond these performance benchmarks, Michael Lorenzen can secure up to $100,000 for becoming an All-Star, $50,000 for winning a Gold Glove and $100,000 for a Cy Young Award victory, with scaled bonuses for finishing within the top 10 in voting.