Kansas City Royals acquire former All-Star pitcher in trade with the Texas Rangers

The Royals made another trade to bolster their pitching staff Monday when they acquired right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen from the Texas Rangers for lefty Walter Pennington.

Lorenzen, 32, has a 3.81 ERA in 19 appearances this season. He’s made 18 starts and finished one game. He has 75 strikeouts and just 82 hits allowed in 101 2/3 innings, while issuing 48 walks. Lorenzen started this season on the injured list because of a strained neck but made his debut in April.

The Rangers signed Lorenzen to a one-year, $4.5 million contract in March. He made his first All-Star Game last season with the Detroit Tigers. He had a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts in 105 2/3 innings a year ago with the Tigers, who traded him to the Phillies before last year’s deadline.

After struggling with the Phillies, Lorenzen was moved to the bullpen and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief during the postseason.

After seven seasons with the Reds to start his career, Lorenzen went to the Angels in 2022 and then the Tigers.

Pennington, 26, made his major-league debut on July 5 against the Rockies at Coors Field and retired the only two batters he faced with one strikeout. In 37 appearances this season with Triple-A Omaha this season, Pennington had a 2.26 ERA.

Earlier this month, the Royals added to their pitching staff when they acquired relief pitcher Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals.