Kansas City Royals Ink Starting Pitcher Seth Lugo to Multi-Year Contract
The Kansas City Royals have signed free agent starting pitcher Seth Lugo, MLB.com's Anne Rogers reported Tuesday afternoon.
Lugo's contract is worth $45 million over three years. The deal includes an opt-out clause for Lugo after the second season.
The Boston Red Sox were one of the other teams reportedly in on Lugo.
The 34-year-old right-hander spent seven years with the New York Mets before signing with the San Diego Padres last offseason. Lugo elected not to exercise his $7.5 million option with the Padres for 2024, choosing instead to re-enter free agency.
Lugo knew his market would expand this winter, however, considering he just spent his first full season as an MLB starter. He went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.203 WHIP and 1.8 WAR in 26 outings, all of which were starts.
During his time with the Mets, Lugo made 38 starts compared to 237 relief appearances.
Lugo is 40-31 for his career, boasting a 3.50 ERA, 1.173 WHIP, 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 10.5 WAR.
Fangraphs is projecting Lugo to go 9-10 with a 4.23 ERA and 2.1 WAR in 2024.
That would make Lugo the most productive Royals starting pitcher by far, considering what they got out of their rotation in 2023. Brady Singer, Jordan Lyles and Zack Greinke combined for a 5.67 ERA in 90 games last year, and hardly anyone stuck around for very long behind them.
Midseason acquisition Cole Ragans went 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA, though, giving Kansas City a 26-year-old lefty to build around in the short and long terms. Lugo can complement Ragans at the top of the rotation, while also replacing Greinke, who hit free agency this fall.
Greinke's return hasn't been ruled out, either, as he is reportedly looking to delay his retirement another year.
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