The Royals have agreed to deals with right-handed pitchers Seth Lugo and Chris Stratton, according to multiple sources. The deals are pending physicals and are expected to be finalized soon.
Lugo, 32, has been a reliable starter for the Mets since 2016. He has a career record of 39-35 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. He has also been a reliable reliever, posting a 2.66 ERA in that role in 2019.
Stratton, 30, was a first-round pick of the Giants in 2012. He has a career record of 20-25 with a 4.80 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. He was released by the Giants in August of 2020.
The Royals are hoping that both pitchers can help bolster their rotation and bullpen. Lugo is expected to be a starter while Stratton could be used as either a starter or reliever.
The Royals have been looking to add pitching depth this offseason and these two signings could be the start of a larger plan. They have already added lefty Mike Minor and righty Wade Davis to their rotation and could be looking to add more arms in the coming weeks.
It will be interesting to see how Lugo and Stratton fit into the Royals’ plans this season. They could be key pieces in the team’s attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
