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KANSAS CITY -- While the focus has been on the Royals’ offensive pursuits this offseason, pitching is never far from their minds.

“You can never have enough pitching,” manager Matt Quatraro said last week at the Winter Meetings. “You need to be able to fortify your plan for injuries or a hiccup here or there.”

The Royals acknowledged at the end of the season that they were remarkably lucky in 2024 with their lack of injuries, especially with their rotation. Three pitchers made 30-plus starts: Seth Lugo (33), Cole Ragans (32) and Brady Singer (32). Michael Wacha only missed three weeks of the season with a left foot fracture in June and still made 29 starts; Alec Marsh was the main fifth starter throughout the season and made 25 starts. And those were really the main contributors to the rotation that posted the second-best ERA (3.55) in baseball in 2024; Michael Lorenzen made six starts after being acquired at the Trade Deadline, Daniel Lynch IV made three stars and relievers Dan Altavilla and Jonathan Bowlan made one start apiece.

That kind of health and production is always the goal, but the Royals can’t only rely on five starters to get through a whole season. Plus, after trading Singer to the Reds to help fortify their lineup with Jonathan India, the Royals are also down a starter and have two open rotation spots, which will likely be filled by Kris Bubic and Marsh or others who emerge in Spring Training. For that reason, general manager J.J. Picollo has included adding a pitcher or two when laying out his offseason plans. Specifically, he’s looking for someone who could be part of the rotation competition in spring while also being willing/able to pitch out of the bullpen.

Who might be a fit in that role? Here are three free agents that come to mind:

1. Michael Lorenzen
It wouldn’t be surprising to see a reunion with Lorenzen and the Royals, who acquired the 32-year-old righty at the Trade Deadline from the Rangers for reliever Walter Pennington. Lorenzen only made six starts for the Royals because of a left hamstring injury suffered in late August, but he was pretty good in the seven total games he appeared in, posting a 1.57 ERA across 28 2/3 innings with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Lorenzen really liked where things were going with Kansas City before the injury. Plus, there’s familiarity here with his teammates and coaches, and he’s already shown his willingness to pitch in any role with the Royals. He’s pretty much exactly what they’re looking for when they say they need a swingman, and it seems likely that Lorenzen would command a short, cheap deal again. It's a matter if both the Royals and Lorenzen see a fit with each other and whether a deal can get done.

2. Ross Stripling
With nine years of MLB experience, Stripling has appeared in 248 games and started 129 of them, typically making a handful of starts each season. The righty began his career well enough with the Dodgers and was an All-Star in 2018. However, outside of his 3.01 ERA in 134 1/3 innings with Toronto in 2022, Stripling wasn’t as effective in stints with the Blue Jays, Giants or Athletics, last year appearing in 22 games (14 starts) for the A’s while posting a 6.01 ERA.

Stripling dealt with some injuries last year, including an elbow strain and back strain, but if the Royals see the 35-year-old as healthy and a bounce-back candidate, he would fit the mold they’re looking for -- especially with his experience pitching in relief for contending teams.

3. Spencer Turnbull
Because of a right lat strain, Turnbull made his last start for the Phillies on June 26 this past year, only making it back to the mound at the very end of the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on a rehab assignment. He was also in consideration for a National League Division Series roster spot, but the Phillies went with another long-inning reliever against the Mets.

Before getting injured, Turnbull posted a 2.65 ERA in 17 games (seven starts) for Philadelphia, which signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract (with performance bonuses) last offseason. The 32-year-old was drafted by the Tigers in 2014 and worked as a starter for four seasons in Detroit, but he was hampered by injuries there as well, with his 148 1/3 innings in 2019 marking his career high. So he’s another pitcher who might be considered a bounce-back candidate and willing to sign another low-risk deal. He’s likely seeking to pitch for a team that will let him start, but Turnbull’s injury history the past few years might even make him better suited for the bullpen if he doesn’t win a starting job.