Former Texas Rangers starter signs one-year deal with Colorado Rockies

Rockies sign former Rangers righty Michael Lorenzen to one-year deal

The Colorado Rockies and former Rangers starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen have agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with a $9 million club option for the 2027 season, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Rockies don't have to make a corresponding move, as they have an available 40-man roster spot.

In March of 2024, the Rangers signed Lorenzen to a one-year, $4.5 million deal. The righty posted a 3.81 ERA (5.17 FIP) with 75 strikeouts and 48 walks across 101 2/3 innings with Texas before being dealt to the Kansas City Royals in July of 2024. He finished the 2024 campaign by allowing just five earned runs on 19 hits and 12 walks in 28 2/3 innings with the Royals. He re-signed with Kansas City on a one-year, $7 million deal with a mutual option for 2026, which the Royals declined. He had a 4.64 ERA with 127 strikeouts and 39 walks across 141 1/3 innings with the Royals last season.

Lorenzen's new deal marks the Rockies' first time adding a free agent starter on a contract worth more than $5 million since signing Kyle Kendrick in 2015. While playing at Coors Field isn't in the best interest of most MLB pitchers, Lorenzen, 34, is pretty much guaranteed to be a mainstay in the Rockies' starting rotation, while he likely would've had to battle to maintain that role if he had signed with a different organization.

Next season will mark Lorenzen's 11th in the big leagues. He made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015. He spent seven seasons with Cincinnati, managing a 4.07 ERA with 406 strikeouts and 197 walks in 473 1/3 innings. He was originally a starting pitcher for the Reds before becoming a long reliever.

After his seven seasons with the Reds, Lorenzen signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels in the 2021-22 offseason. He returned to being a starter with Los Angeles and posted a 4.24 ERA in 97 2/3 innings. He signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers in the 2022-23 offseason and represented Detroit at the 2023 All-Star Game. The Tigers then traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies.