KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Michael Lorenzen has been trying to find himself on the mound over the past five years, and pitching in Denver’s high altitude with the Colorado Rockies this season didn’t help in the search.

Months of bad results led to him being designated for assignment Aug. 17 and released two days later, and though he kept throwing once home in Southern California, the 34-year-old “was content with being done, to be honest,” both with 2026 and maybe beyond that, too.

“It's been such a battle, going out knowing I have an A-version of myself, but I'm constantly presenting a C-plus version, no matter what I do, and it wears on you over five years, you know?” he said. “Then you go to Colorado and you experience that, that wears on you pretty good. So I was content. I was spending good time with the family (he and wife Cassi have two toddlers), enjoying it. But I was still throwing, just in case something popped up that I felt like was going to be a good experience. It had to be unique. If it wasn’t unique, I’d rather just be done.”

A few days after he got home, Shane Bieber suffered a teres major injury and the Toronto Blue Jays, in desperate need of professional innings, called with an opportunity that fit the bill. He signed Aug. 27 for a prorated portion of the major-league minimum, the Rockies on the hook for the remainder of his $8-million salary this year, and he’s got three appearances in, with the possibility of a start or bulk-inning work Wednesday in the series finale against the Athletics at Sacramento.

“Toronto’s a good spot, it's always been fun to go to, you have one........

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