According to Major League sources, Kyle Lorenzen has agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with the Colorado Rockies that includes a 2027 option worth $9 million. The club has not yet confirmed the deal.
Lorenzen, who turned 34 on Sunday, will become the first starting pitcher who had not previously been with the Rockies to sign with them as a free agent since Chad Kuhl, who agreed to a deal during Spring Training 2022.
Whether it was pitchers wanting to avoid Colorado’s altitude or the team’s decisions to emphasize homegrown pitching, the Rockies have been largely absent from the open market for starters. However, new general manager Josh Byrnes said this week that he detected interest from veterans willing to come in on “shorter deals,” and the team was discussing bringing in two.
While the Rockies went 43-119 last year — tying the 2003 Tigers for the third-worst record in the Modern Era (better than only the 1962 Mets’ 40-120 record and the 2024 White Sox 41-121 mark) — their starters posted a 6.65 ERA, the highest in MLB since ERA became an official statistic in 1913.
Lorenzen spent the first seven years of his career with the Reds, but since 2021 he has signed one-year contracts with the Angels, Tigers (who traded him to the Phillies), Rangers (who traded him to the Royals) and Kansas City, as a free agent heading into last season.
Lorenzen was particularly effective down the stretch for the Royals in 2024 after the trade from Texas, appearing in seven games — with six starts — and posting a 1.57 ERA in 28 2/3 innings after the Trade Deadline. He regressed to a 4.64 ERA over 141 2/3 innings in ’25, though his 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings was his highest rate in a non-shortened season since Lorenzen was a full-time reliever in ’19. The culprit was a career-worst 25 home runs allowed.
Lorenzen is just a few days on an active roster away from reaching 10 years of MLB service time. Over that time, his arsenal hasn’t changed much and his velocity has held up well — he had peak years as a reliever in Cincinnati but has hovered around 94-95 mph with his four-seam fastball as a starter.
Between 2021-24, Lorenzen’s four-seamer was never touched for better than a .342 slugging percentage. Last season, however, batters slugged .505 against it, with six home runs and six doubles. That was the most homers Lorenzen has surrendered against the four-seamer since his rookie season in ’15.
Lorenzen’s best putaway pitch over the last several seasons, including 2025, has been the changeup. He threw it 17.3 percent of the time last year, and it carried a 42.4 percent whiff rate with 35 strikeouts and two homers allowed in 115 plate appearances that ended in a changeup.
In addition to a solid track record, Lorenzen adds much-needed experience to the rotation. Of the projected 2026 starters, only lefty Kyle Freeland and righty Ryan Feltner (who missed much of ’25 because of injuries) were beyond their rookie years last season. Potentially, right-hander Keegan Thompson — formerly with the Cubs and claimed off waivers from the Reds on Wednesday — can absorb some starts in addition to pitching multiple relief innings.
The Colorado Rockies are poised to add veteran pitcher Kyle Lorenzen to their rotation, pending a confirmation of a one-year, $8 million contract with a $9 million option for 2027, according to Major League sources. This move signals a shift in strategy for the Rockies, who have historically struggled to attract free-agent starting pitchers.
A New Approach for the Rockies
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The Rockies are actively seeking to bolster their starting pitching, a need highlighted by a historically poor performance in 2025.
- Lorenzen’s deal includes a 2027 option, offering the Rockies potential long-term stability.
- The signing marks a departure from the Rockies’ previous reluctance to pursue free-agent starters.
- Lorenzen brings valuable experience to a young Rockies pitching staff.
- His changeup has been a particularly effective pitch, boasting a 42.4 percent whiff rate in 2025.
What’s the biggest challenge facing Kyle Lorenzen as he joins the Rockies? Adapting to the high altitude of Coors Field and limiting home runs, after surrendering a career-high 25 in 2025, will be key to his success.
Addressing a Critical Need
The Rockies’ starting rotation struggled mightily in 2025, posting a 6.65 ERA – the highest in Major League Baseball since ERA became an official statistic in 1913. The team’s 43-119 record, tying the 2003 Detroit Tigers for the third-worst in the Modern Era, underscored the urgent need for pitching improvements. New general manager Josh Byrnes indicated this week that he had identified veteran pitchers interested in “shorter deals,” and Lorenzen appears to be the first to capitalize on that opportunity.
Lorenzen’s Recent Performance
Lorenzen, who turned 34 on Sunday, has become a bit of a journeyman in recent years, signing one-year contracts with several teams since 2021: the Angels, Tigers (who traded him to the Phillies), Rangers (who traded him to the Royals) and Kansas City. He finished strong for the Royals in 2024, posting a 1.57 ERA in 28 2/3 innings after being traded from Texas. While his ERA rose to 4.64 in 141 2/3 innings in 2025, he still managed a career-high 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
A Familiar Face for the Rockies
Lorenzen will be the first starting pitcher who hadn’t previously been with the Rockies to sign with the team as a free agent since Chad Kuhl agreed to a deal during Spring Training 2022. The Rockies’ previous aversion to pursuing free-agent starters was often attributed to pitchers’ reluctance to pitch at Coors Field’s challenging altitude or the team’s preference for developing homegrown talent.
