KC Royals make new pitcher signing official ... and drop Ryan O’Hearn from 40-man roster
The Kansas City Royals signed veteran free-agent pitcher Jordan Lyles to bolster their starting rotation with an experienced innings eater who has spent more than a decade in the major leagues.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander signed a two-year contract with the Royals. The deal will pay Lyles a total of $17 million ($8.5 million per year) with $1 million in performance bonuses ($500,000 each year), according to a source with knowledge of the contract.
In order to make room on the roster for Lyles, the Royals designated for assignment first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn.
Lyles, 32, is a former first-round pick (38th overall in 2008) of the Houston Astros out of high school after a standout prep career in South Carolina. He made his major-league debut in May 2011. He has pitched for the Astros, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles.
In 2022, Lyles registered a 12-11 record with a 4.42 ERA, 144 strikeouts and 52 walks in 32 starts (179 innings), including one complete game for the Orioles. He also had a 2.77-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 6.7% walk percentage.
