Royals sign RHP Lyles to 2-year deal, hope for many innings

By DAVE SKRETTA The Associated Press

FILE - Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Jordan Lyles throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Baltimore. The Kansas City Royals and well-traveled right-hander Jordan Lyles have agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Terrance Williams]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals announced their $17 million, two-year deal with right-hander Jordan Lyles a week after agreeing to terms with him. The Royals made space for him by designating for assignment first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. They had just re-signed O’Hearn last month to a $1.4 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. The 32-year-old Lyles is being counted on to pitch a lot of innings for Kansas City, and potentially take some of the strain off its young and promising staff. Lyles was 12-11 with a 4.42 ERA last season in his lone year with Baltimore.