Royals cut ties with ex-Reds pitcher who now feels like a natural fit to return

The Kansas City Royals wasted no time kickstarting their offseason after decliningMichael Lorenzen's mutual-option for the 2026 season. The former Cincinnati Reds pitcher will now receive a $1.5 million buyout and is a free agent once again.

While Lorenzen is nowhere near the flamethrower he was earlier in his career with the Reds, the right-hander has demonstrated the ability to start; something he was rarely given the opportunity to do during his time in Cincinnati.

Lorenzen will turn 34 years old this offseason, and will now be looking for a new place to call home in 2026. While there are sure to be a number a suitors looking for a backend starter, a return to where it all began could benefit both Lorenzen and the Reds.

Former Reds pitcher Michael Lorenzen could offset the losses of Zack Littell and Nick Martinez

Lorenzen went 7-11 in 27 appearances last season with 26 starts. For the third consecutive season, Lorenzen surpassed 130 innings pitched and posted a 4.64 ERA with 127 strikeouts. Those are the type of numbers that typically garner interest from non-contenders who'll look to flip said player for prospects at the trade deadline.

Rather than be part of midseason trade speculation and then eventually dealt for the third time in four years, Lorenzen could decide to join a contender like the Reds and add a veteran presence at the backend of the rotation.

While most Reds fans assume Cincinnati has the arms to compete already, they're likely to lose both Nick Martinez and Zack Littell this offseason. That's over 200 innings to cover in 2026. Though there are high hopes for the likes of Chase Burns, Brandon Williamson, Chase Petty, Julian Aguiar, Rhett Lowder, and others, none of those players have shown that they can handle the rigors of an entire 162-game season.

Adding an arm like Lorenzen would bring even more depth to the Reds' rotation, and allow Cincinnati to deal from their strong stable of starting pitchers in order to bolster the lineup heading into next season.

If any of the aforementioned starters turn in a stellar 2026 season and become a crucial part of the rotation, the coaching staff could always move Lorenzen into the bullpen; a role he served for years during his tenure with the Reds.