Seth Lugo, a notably valuable pitcher in professional baseball, will remain with the Kansas City team.
The Royals finalized a multi-year contract extension with Lugo on Sunday evening, according to reports from Jeff Passan of ESPN. The complete details of the agreement have not been disclosed at this time. While Lugo was generally regarded as a prominent player potentially available for trade before the deadline this summer, he is now set to stay in Kansas City for several years.
Lugo’s previous contract extended through the conclusion of the current season, with a salary of $15 million.
Due to his accomplishments and the Royals’ overall performance, Lugo was considered a highly desirable acquisition as the trade deadline approached, assuming the team was open to trading him. Since joining Kansas City, his career has thrived, culminating in a second-place finish for the AL Cy Young Award last season, closely behind Tarik Skubal, the star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
Lugo, a right-handed pitcher known for his moderate velocity, isn’t a big strikeout pitcher and often sees the ball put into play in the air; he isn’t the typical image of a dominant pitcher. However, his extensive range of pitches keeps hitters guessing, allowing him to consistently deliver quality starts.
The Royals’ current record stands at 52-54 as they prepare for Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, placing them third in the AL Central standings. Lugo is scheduled to pitch next on Tuesday night in the second game of the three-game series.
Baseball Savant identifies an impressive array of 10 pitches that Lugo has utilized this season: a four-seam fastball, curveball, sinker, cutter, changeup, slurve, slider, slow curve, sweeper, and splitter. While pitch identification is not an exact science, this demonstrates the variety of approaches Lugo can take with each pitch. Additionally, he has received a Gold Glove award.
The outcomes speak for themselves. Lugo faced more batters than any other pitcher in the AL last season, and he is on track for another strong season with the Royals this year. Although advanced statistics may suggest that the 35-year-old might not sustain this level of success, some players consistently exceed expectations. Lugo’s style of play could easily make him one of those exceptions.
