Royals sign Jordan Lyles


Entering the 2022 offseason, Kansas City was looking to strengthen a shaky pitching staff. The Royals staff last season ranked 25th of 30 according to yardbarker.com. The Orioles rotation didn't do much better either last season. The new reign for Kansas City thought bringing in a starting pitcher that owns a career 5.10 ERA would be a wise decision. In 2022, Jordan Lyles could barely keep his ERA below 4.50 with a 4.42 ERA. He did have 144 strikeouts. Lyles will provide the Royals with a starter who can fill in the fourth or fifth spot with possible in house options competing for the final spot in the rotation. The new Royals right hander unfortunately is known to struggle with finding his command from time to time, but he does keep walks down to a minimum unlike many of the pitchers in the Royals rotation from a year ago. The Royals signed Lyles to a 2-year deal worth $17 million guaranteed. Lyles will not be an arm that Kansas City will get a much needed veteran arm in a youthful rotation. The 32-year old has bounced around the league throughout his career with seven teams. Before signing with Kansas City, Lyles was in discussions with the Washington Nationals. The decision to sign with the Royals over the Nationals for the right hander seemed to be the second year on the contract compared to the Nationals one year offer. The Orioles also had conversations with Lyles about returning to Baltimore next season but never could come to an agreement, giving the right hander the opportunity to test the free agent market. According to birdswatcher.com: "When you’re a rebuilding team looking to pull together five starters to make up a rotation, having a guy you can count on to make every start and pitch deep into games is vital. It’s vital to preserving your bullpen, and if Lyles missed a start due to injuries, it’s another guy the Orioles need to rush to the majors. Lyles prevented that." According to another Orioles source, the right-hander prevented Baltimore from having to go to their bullpen early in games. Lyles' numbers at home vs. on the road are quite different. While playing at Camden Yards in Baltimore, he posted a 3.47 ERA. The right hander's numbers on the road however are significantly worse, with a 5.25 ERA. Kansas City's rotation with the addition of Lyles next season should be a middle of the pack type of pitching staff that still has questions surrounding who's going to fill the final spot of the rotation. Heading into spring training, the Royals could let the current pitchers on the roster compete for the final spot in the rotation. Although the Lyles signing isn't a knock you out of your chair type of signing, it is definitely a signing that you don't have to worry about who is going to pitch every fourth or fifth day for the Royals. 





















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