Alex Lange agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, two days after the 30-year-old right-hander was released by the Detroit Tigers.

Lange was on the injured list from the start of the season because of a strained right late muscle. He was activated Aug. 18, pitched one scoreless inning against Houston, then was optioned to Triple-A Toledo three days later and went 2-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 24 relief appearances for the Mud Hens.