Kansas City Royals sign Kyle Lohse for some inexplicable reason

The Kansas City Royals are continuing to look for bargains in free agency, although their most recent signing makes virtually no sense.

There is no question that the Kansas City Royals need pitching depth. Aside from Danny Duffy, there are questions surrounding every member of the starting rotation. Even the depth players, such as the recently signed Clay Buchholz and youngsters like Eric Skoglund, Scott Barlow, and Miguel Almonte, have their own list of concerns.

With that being the case, it is not a surprise that the Royals would continue their quest for pitching. However, their addition of Kyle Lohse to a minor league deal is not exactly the tyep of move that one would have expected.

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There was a time when Lohse was a solid pitcher. During a four year span from 2011 through 2014, he posted a 54-30 record, with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.143 WHiP. Although he only struck out 520 batters in his 796.1 innings, Lohse issued just 161 walks and 83 homers, using his defense to his advantage.

However, those days are seemingly long since over. He struggled with the Brewers in 2015, eventually sent to the bullpen. In 2016, he lasted just two horrific starts, giving up 13 runs on 15 hits and five walks over his 9.1 innings. He continued those struggles in AAA, posting a 5.06 ERA, albeit with a much more palatable 1.261 WHiP. Yet, given his struggles overall in 2016, Lohse has been a free agent since the end of that season, remaining unsigned last year.

It is hard to understand what, if anything, Lohse could give the Royals. He is already 39 years old, having sat out the entire 2017 campaign. Lohse was just below league average as a pitcher in his career, with an ERA+ of 96 over his 16 year major league career. If anything, Lohse has far more questions than anything else that the Royals would have as an option in the rotation.

Next: Royals cutting bait on Kyle Zimmer

The Kansas City Royals are set to sign Kyle Lohse to a minor league deal. It may just be a shot in the dark, but there are some shots not worth taking.