The Rangers announced Monday morning that they’ve traded right-hander Michael Lorenzen to the Royals in exchange for minor league lefty Walter Pennington. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported shortly before the announcement that Kansas City had been showing interest in Lorenzen. Pennington is on the 40-man roster, so no corresponding moves were necessary.
A trade of Lorenzen isn’t a signal that the third-place Rangers are punting on their season. There’s been plenty of talk over the past couple weeks that with Max Scherzer, Dane Dunning, Tyler Mahle and eventually Jacob deGrom all getting healthy, Texas could move an arm from its current rotation. Lorenzen, playing on an affordable one-year contract and slated to become a free agent at season’s end, has stood as the most obvious of the bunch to change hands. With Lorenzen headed to Kansas City, the Rangers’ rotation will include Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney and perhaps Dunning — although Mahle is on the cusp of wrapping up a minor league rehab assignment and could take that fifth spot.
Lorenzen, 32, has pitched 101 2/3 innings with the Rangers and turned in a very solid 3.81 earned run average, although the rest of his numbers aren’t as encouraging. Lorenzen’s 17.9% strikeout rate is well below the 22.3% league average, while his 11.5% walk rate is considerably higher than the 8.2% league average. He’s kept the ball on the ground at a nice 42.3% clip, but Lorenzen has also benefited from a .243 average on balls in play and 80.7% strand rate that are both considerably better than his career marks of .279 and 74.2%. Some regression on one or both is likely.
Even with some regression, however, Lorenzen is a solid enough back-end starter. This year’s numbers are a decent approximation of who he’s been since reaching free agency three years ago and pursuing a career as a starting pitcher after previously spending five seasons in the Reds’ bullpen. Lorenzen posted a 4.20 ERA, 18.9% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate in 250 2/3 innings between the Angels, Tigers and Phillies over the 2022-23 seasons. Add in this year’s work and he’s at a 4.09 ERA with strikeout and walk rates that are worse-than-average but not egregiously so.
That’s a good indication of what to expect moving forward for the Royals, and Lorenzen has shown some flashes of higher output at times. His first two starts following a trade to the Phillies last summer will always be memorable for Phils fans; he tossed eight innings of two-run ball in his team debut and followed it up with a no-hitter against the Nationals his next time out, in his home debut at Citizens Bank Park. However, Lorenzen faded down the stretch, as he was pushing to a career-high innings workload (and also tossed a career-high 124 pitches in that no-hitter). The Phils moved him to the bullpen late in the season.
Kansas City’s rotation is generally full, with Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Brady Singer, Michael Wacha and Alec Marsh representing a sound one through five. Marsh has been hit hard after a solid start to the season, however, yielding a 6.37 ERA over his past 10 starts. He’s had a few solid outings mixed in throughout that stretch, but since May 27 he’s given up at least three runs in eight of his 10 starts (and at least four in six of them).
Lorenzen could step into that rotation spot, perhaps pushing Marsh to the bullpen or even to Triple-A Omaha. Lorenzen has already pitched enough innings to boost his $4.5MM base salary to $5.5MM, and he’d earn bonuses of $300K, $350K, $400K and $450K for reaching 120, 140, 160 and 180 innings, respectively. The Royals could technically use Lorenzen in the bullpen — they just saw both John Schreiber and Hunter Harvey exit their most recent game due to injury — but that’d be somewhat of a surprising usage given that they traded a big league-ready reliever who’s in the midst of a terrific Triple-A season in order to acquire Lorenzen.
Pennington, 26, will join the Rangers and give them an immediate option out of the ’pen. The Rangers haven’t been able to find a consistently effective lefty relief option this season, but Pennington could fit that bill. Undrafted in the shortened 2020 draft, the 6’2″, 205-pound southpaw signed out of the Colorado School of Mines — and earlier this season became just the second player from that school to ever reach the majors (and the first since Roy Hartzell back in 1906).
The Royals called Pennington up for a brief debut, but he threw just two-thirds of an inning before being sent back down to Omaha. He’s been lights-out with the Storm Chasers this season, pitching to a pristine 2.26 ERA with a 32.9% strikeout rate, an 8.3% walk rate and a 52.6% ground-ball rate in 59 2/3 frames. Pennington sits 92-93 mph with a sinker, 89-90 mph with his cutter and 83-85 mph with a slider, rounding out a trio of primary offerings. More than half of his pitches this year have been sliders, and he’s held both lefties and righties in check along the way, yielding near-identical batting lines of .198/.250/.286 (to righties) and .156/.262/.278 (to lefties).
Pennington is in the first of three minor league option years. He can’t reach a full year of big league service in 2024, meaning the Rangers will control him through the 2030 season at the very least (although future optional assignments could push that free agent trajectory back even further). He makes for a potential long-term option in the Texas bullpen — a nice pull for a rental starter whose spot in the rotation was in jeopardy given the sheer volume of veteran arms the Rangers have coming back from injury.
Interesting…..
Too early to tell if Rangers are going from championship pennant to white flag.
They have a SP glut
Wad – If they are still in GFIN mode, why trade for a prospect? They could have addressed a current need instead.
Banking on injured players not only returning but performing well is risky at best.
Except the fact that half their SP’s are insanely injury prone lol.
Because the vast majority of trades are for prospects.. he’s also a near MLB prospect with control
Wad – That’s because the vast majority of teams acquiring the prospects are sellers. The Rangers claim they are not, which makes the trade seem strange …. unless they are fibbing.
They potentially did address a need. Texas needs a lefty reliever. Now if Pennington can actually fill that role or not is another question, but he’s been effective this year in the high minors.
Daniel – Perhaps longterm, but now? The guy has a grand total of 2 outs in his MLB career and that was back on July 5th. Expecting him to be effective right now seems like a stretch.
Acquiring any reliever and expecting him to be effective in a small sample is typically somewhat of a stretch. TX isn’t punting by dealing Lorenzen. My guess is that Mahle was their preferred choice and they can actually get a LT relief option. Established relievers have been very expensive. TX is obviously looking at more than a season window here.
Pennington is ML ready and debuted a week ago for KC and is on the 40-man roster and should be in the bullpen for tonight’s game.
If you read the article, they need a lefty reliever now. He fills that need.
They don’t need Lorenzen. Better options coming back. He’s having a down year. I wouldn’t want him in my pen. They basically got this reliever for free. See what he can do. 7 years for 2 months is a win.
I think it’s a stretch to say they’re waving the white flag. They have a lot of arms they’re expecting to come back off the shelf soon and have to clear some room out. I think this was merely an admission that Lorenzen was not part of their long term plans and whether or not they do succeed in turning their season around and making a playoff push again this year, he was unlikely to play a major part in that effort. If Lorenzen is the difference between serious contention and not making the cut, your team was probably never genuinely in the mix anyways.
The ask price for established quality relievers on the trade market is insane right now, so to get a near-MLB ready arm who has been doing well in the upper minors at the cost of a guy they clearly didn’t see as essential to their plans is a shrewd move. He may not be ready to contribute immediately down the stretch, but presumably the Rangers view themselves as being able to return to contention next season and beyond with better health luck. If Pennington can give them multiple quality cost-controlled seasons out of the bullpen on teams that are regularly part of the playoff mix, I think pretty much anyone would give up 2 months of Michael Lorenzen starts for that every single time.
So overall I don’t think it offers an insight on where they view themselves right now, they were merely presented with an opportunity to address a larger need and took it.
That kids minor league numbers are pretty good
Fun fact: He went to Colorado School of Mines; the Orediggers. Great, underrated logo. Look it up…
And also played for Hays Larks in summer.
Who would have predicted at the start of the season that the Royals would have one of the three WC spots on July 29th and be in a position to add players and payroll? Quite the turnaround even if Boston or Seattle sneaks into the WC spot instead.
Cheese – I predicted it at the start of the season because the Royals spent a lot last offseason, and in that weak division it’s not that hard to get into the expanded postseason.
When you’ve got owners who want to win, it doesn’t take long for that to happen …. provided smart decisions are made of course.
“Weak division” – 4 teams avg WP: .545. 4 teams + White Sox avg WP: .486.
coach – It was at the start of the season, nobody knew Cleveland or Detroit would be as good as they are.
Last year the Twins were the ONLY ALC team to not have a losing record …. and even they weren’t that great with just 87 wins.
And not to knock the Guards, but they’ve played only 48 games against teams that currently have a winning record. Compare that to teams outside their division like Baltimore (65 games), NYY (75 games), Bos (61 games) etc and you can see Cleveland’s schedule has been rather easy.
Having a horrific team in their division certainly helps too.
Sorry but it’s not a “weak division”. Need to do your homework before you talk.
It was considered a weak division before the season started.
The way it has played out this season is completely different than expected
Unwritten – Thank you.
No one is talking about the Chris Young GM/WS winner in Royal Blue coupled with exGMDM (Dayton Moore) being an advisor to CY, and GMJJ in KC being the assistant GM under Moore for over a decade, connection, and it’s obvious these two teams will hook up on trades for years to come.
Ragans for Chapman last year. Lorenzen for Pennington this year.
They’ll continue to scratch each other’s back for the foreseeable future.
Didn’t Moore go to CHW to take the same position for another former Royal Chris Getz?
nostradamus predicted this: “The blue-head shall white-head”
I took the over and felt great about it and for them to win the world series because the math said to.
It was time for them to step up their contention effort and they were trying to get a new stadium.
The fact of the matter is that any teams going into the postseason from the AL Central should be looked at with skepticism and should actually be penalized for making the postseason. The fact that they were all allowed to rack up easy wins by playing the Chicago White Sox so many times is a joke. That’s why the top four teams in the AL Central look like they have over-performed. Any middling to decent team who gets to play the White Sox so many times will undoubtedly have a puffed up and exaggerated W-L record.
Ignorant – What the hell happened with Gilbert last night? Really shocking turn of events after the great start, did the bad call really rattle him that much? This is why I don’t bet on games.
That bad call was lame! But I know you just can’t fall apart after a bad call either. And it’s not like he fell apart, the Boston lineup is pretty hot right now. The Mariners are cursed in Fenway Park at any rate, at least recently. They need to figure out how to win there. At least our putrid offense put up 7 runs ; I have to look for the bright side somewhere. Let’s hope the next two games are more competitive. Cheers Fever!
Ignorant – My team said they were GFIN so within 10 minutes they will be announcing the acquisitions of Flaherty and Crochet.
Because Red Sox ownership has a stellar reputation for keeping their promises ….. stellar I tell ya!!
Who wants Tanner Scott when you can have Sims? One Tanner is more than enough!!
Full throttle bay-bee!
Cheers!!
Incredibly rude of the Rangers to have him mop up 4 innings yesterday lmao he won’t be ready in any capacity until at least Wednesday. I wonder if that factored into the trade return.
So teams should know 3-5 days in advance that they are going to trade someone and not utilize them? He was a Ranger yesterday and they get to utilize him as such. Guess you had a fit when Morel was actually in the lineup when he got traded?
Just getting the Royals back for royally screwing them on that Chapman deal. 3 months of trash Chapman for Ragans was robbery!
TPiPad – Lorenzen was up and talking to Boch and Maddux when they stuck in Jonathan Hernandez. It seemed as if he was saying “Hey I only threw 40 pitches in my start yesterday, I’m good. Put me in.” Which they did eventually. What a class act, shows alot of character.
Perhaps the Royals said, that’s the pitcher I need to boost my staff. And went for a guy that is willing to do anything for his team.
With the Rangers getting swept this weekend I think they’re in sell mode
Little – If they trade Nate then I’d agree, but I don’t think they’ll give up so easily the year after winning the WS …. they are not the Red Sox, the owners care about winning.
I doubt they’re in sell mode. Probably more so in “improve our 2025 prospects” mode.
The Rangers just helped a team they need to overtake to get a wild card. This is very strange if they are not in sell mode.
There is no way the Rangers are going to get in via wild card. There is far too many teams and games behind. They’re only chance is to win the division, which is a possibility if they get it together. Meanwhile, with the picthers they’ve got coming back or just returned, they easily had at least one starter that could dealt and Lorenzen was probably their best choice to do so.
⬆️ A lot of typos with that submission but you get the idea.
Yes, I got the idea:) Before play today, the Rangers are 6 games in the loss column behind KC for the third wild card and 5 games in the loss column behind Houston for first place in the AL West. So, I think they have about the same chance to win a wild card as the division right now.
If Lorenzen is the difference in a playoff spot well… What I Rangers told them no. We aren’t helping you? Well KC simply goes out and gets a better pitcher.
Rangers are in contender area. Might sell and buy but they are going for division I think. Lorenzen doesn’t factor in either way.
Dumb move, JJ.
Why? Pennington is 26 and just made his big league debut. Lorenzen will step in the the 5th starter role as Marsh has started to falter.
i like what michael gave us for a spring training signing, his start to the season was definitely a pleasant surprise, but he is starting to falter hard. i don’t think either team is giving up a lot here.
I was hoping the Braves were in on this guy, would have been a nice add for the rest of the season.
Lorenzen isn’t very good and doesn’t move the needle much. I do wonder if they move him to the pen full time because that’s a bigger need.
Lorenzen could be the best fifth starter in the league.
Doesn’t look like Rangers got much, I can’t find his minor stats unless he went from undrafted to the mlb right away.
try the milb app
@royals i found it. Normally it pulls up.
2.26 ERA in 60 innings AAA what a trade for Texas.
Lorenzen has pitched well this year and last as a starter but looked like he ran out of gas after the no hitter with the Phillies. He’s a good tweener and can pitch out of the bullpen too. Good add.
TX trade Houdini back to NY Yankees
Lorenzen will help them. They need pitching help in both starting and relief roles.
Brief and to the point! Great post.
Also needed help on RH side. Royals bullpen has plenty of lefties, thus Pennington was of limited help.
I’m really liking the moves the Royals have made in the offseason and during the season. Let’s hope they can sneak into a WC spot.
Yeah, their front office was aggressive and made the moves to be competitive. I wish Hoyer had taken the offseason more seriously and given the Cubs the proper reinforcements it needed for this season…
Good for KC. At least they are trying since last offseason and into the season.
Decent trade for both.
With the pitching market thin it feels like someone might make a Godfather offer you can’t refuse for another Rangers pitcher or two. Doesn’t mean they will take them as every year someone turns down a good offer, but sense is the last few hours are going to be extra crazy this year, so I’m refreshing often to enjoy the ride!
Will be interesting to see what fringe teams like the Ragers and Giants decide to do.
Both are prob candidates for buy and sell. With buying being light while selling off underperforming or extra goods.
Rangers can still win the division. Giants much less likely.
Great for the Royals, they’re really commited to win this season.
Pennington stats look good but I don’t like he is throwing so soft.
Don’t love low 90s fb and low to mid 80s slider out of the pen, sliders play better at 86+. I want my relievers throwing 97+ with am 88+ slider. Pennington must have great movement but I’m worried about the velo
Well, he only threw 2/3 of an inning and his big league debut. You’ll have to judge him by his minor-league stats. And luckily, there is a minor-league baseball app
Getting Lorenzo’s does not improve Royals. He’ll get shelled bigly & often. Win Win for Twins
I commend Royals for pushing hard to win. This is a good trade for Tex.
Just wondering if this is going to drop Andersons value.
Not the same tier pitcher. Not at all.
I think I’d rather have Pennington than Lorenzen. I think the Rangers won this deal already.
The Royals also need a corner outfielder. Has anyone considered… … … …
Pluck Kevin Pillar from the Angels not going to playoff this year and Kevin stating this is his final year. He’s got great numbers this year
Seems reasonable to me. Royals have a lot of LH relief depth, with three in the pen (Zerpa, Smith, Long) and Veneziano at AAA.
And don’t forget Bubic is in the pen too
They’re not punting, but they are trading an arm that has been successful this season and is working on the cheap. At least say the punter is warming up on the sidelines.
They addressed a need
Now they need another bat.
I’m pretty sure Lorenzen can play the OF.
I like this trade. Now go get a big bat.
Yes.
For a no risk move – Luke Voit is healthy again and mutilating the ball in Mexico. 22 HR 54 RBI with good hitting statistics.
Car 54 to Brian Cashman….where are you man….this guy would have been perfect as an addition to the back end of the Yankee pitching staff……wow, guess he’s waiting for Montas to be dangled in a trade or Billy Beane to call with a fleecing offer as usual…..LOL
How about Brett Rooker now for prosoects?
I don’t think he’s worth giving up a major top prospect. He’s 30 years old.. I’d give up an 18-year-old catching prospect but definitely NOT Blake Mitchell or Carter Jensen
I did not see this trade comeing
Very well done! The Royals sure seem to have overpaid on this one!
Absolutely love this trade for Kc. Lorenzen is a serviceable big league arm and we gave up virtually nothing for him.
Ragans is already 32 innings over his career high and his fastball velocity is down. Would love to see a six man rotation down the stretch.
Starter or bullpen, Lorenzen makes us noticeably better basically for free. Now let’s do two or three more trades just like it and see if we can’t make a run at this thing.
Royals having a good season. Shame they’re going to blow up that beautiful stadium.
According to transactions they optioned Walter Pennington to the minor leagues for the moment
Lorenzen is listed on baseball reference as pitcher and outfielder. Is this the missing outfielder piece the royals have been looking for?
34 appearances in the OF for Lorenzen including 29 in 2019, when the Reds made a serious attempt to turn him into a combo reliever/late inning pinch hitter and OF sub. I don’t remember how well he fielded in the OF, but he could certainly swing the bat well enough and was athletic enough 5 years ago to not embarrass anyone.
Finally, some one who thinks like me.
We need more guys named Walter in the big leagues.
And more Zane’s and Smokey’s.
Lorenzen is supposedly the guy that Tigers pitching coach Fetter “fixed” according to Tiger lore. Traded for the second time and with his 4th club in two years. Beware of college pitching coaches, or any Hinch coach (they are not allowed to speak to the press) if you want good results.
We don’t need him to be vintage Clayton Kershaw. He makes us better than we were and the guy we gave up isn’t a Top 30 prospect. I’ll do that trade all day and twice on Sunday.
Okay, but after 100 innings he gets knocked around like tackling dummy.
But harder