The Padres have expressed some interest in free agent righty Michael Lorenzen as they look to fill out their rotation, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The 32-year-old Lorenzen is among the more notable free agent starting pitchers yet to sign this offseason.
Lorenzen is a free agent for the third consecutive offseason. The longtime Reds setup man hit the market two winters ago in search of an opportunity to move back to a rotation — the role in which he broke into the majors as a rookie. That led to a one-year, $6.75MM deal with the Angels that produced solid results but was cut short at 97 2/3 innings due to a shoulder strain. Lorenzen took another one-year deal last offseason, this time landing a $8.5MM guarantee from the Tigers. The end-of-season results look solid — 4.18 ERA, 17.8% strikeout rate, 7.5% walk rate — but also don’t necessarily tell the whole story of his season.
A strong first half (and a generally underwhelming Tigers roster) helped to both propel Lorenzen to his first All-Star Game and position him as a trade candidate who was in relatively strong demand. Lorenzen turned in a 3.80 ERA as a Tiger, soaking up 105 2/3 innings in 18 starts (5 2/3 frames per outing) while fanning 20% of opponents against a 6.5% walk rate. The Phillies eventually acquired him to help stabilize the rotation down the stretch, and in the early stages of his Philadelphia tenure the trade looked like a masterstroke.
Lorenzen’s Phillies debut was sensational. He tossed eight innings of two-run ball against a contending Marlins club, limiting the Fish to a pair of runs on six hits and a walk. One-upping that type of debut is no small feat, but he did so in spades, tossing a no-hitter against the Nationals in his second start. Lorenzen looked like an instant Phillies success, but things went downhill quickly thereafter.
Whether due to a career-high workload, some type of minor injury or a simple run of poor performance, Lorenzen wilted in such substantial fashion that the Phils eventually dropped him to the bullpen. In the five starts immediately following that 124-pitch no-hitter, Lorenzen allowed 26 runs (23 earned) on 37 hits and 11 walks with just 14 strikeouts in 26 innings. His first outing as a reliever for the Phils saw him serve up another four runs in just one-third of an inning. He recovered with four shutout innings over his final three relief appearances, but what looked like a breakout season in mid-August ended with a whimper.
Even with that wobbly finish, Lorenzen is a sensible target for a Padres team in need of solid innings and rotation depth. The right-hander built up to 153 innings in 2023, and while he may have faded down the stretch, that workload might also make him less likely to deal with any late-season fatigue in 2024. San Diego’s current rotation includes Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Michael King, with a host of unknowns vying for the final two spots. Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, Pedro Avila, Matt Waldron, Glenn Otto and Jay Groome are among the options for the final two spots.
It’s a deep collection of arms, all of whom other than Groome have at least some MLB experience, but no one from that bunch has proven much as a starter. Even King, whom the Padres acquired from the Yankees in the Juan Soto blockbuster (alongside Vasquez and Brito) has never pitched a full big league season as a starter. An injury to Musgrove and/or Darvish — both of whom have spent time on the IL in recent seasons — would render the Padres heavily reliant on a cast of general question marks. Lorenzen has some questions himself, but he’s also pitched 250 2/3 innings of 4.20 ERA ball over the past two seasons. There’s little doubt he’d be a steadying presence.
The question for the Padres is one of payroll. San Diego was reportedly aiming to scale back payroll by as much as $50MM this offseason, which was the driving factor behind the Soto trade in the first place. They also swapped out an experienced but relatively expensive reliever (Scott Barlow) for a less-proven and lower-cost bullpen arm (Enyel De Los Santos) and have allowed Josh Hader, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Nick Martinez to depart via free agency (with Blake Snell likely to follow). The Friars have spent some money, bringing in NPB reliever Yuki Matsui and KBO reliever Woo Suk Go on low-AAV multi-year deals, but the offseason has been more focused on subtracting big salaries than bolstering a win-now roster.
As things stand, the Padres’ payroll sits at a projected $156MM, with $212MM of luxury tax obligations, per Roster Resource. That’s a massive $100MM shy of their end-of-season 2023 payroll level, which ought to leave the Padres with some money to make modest additions between now and Opening Day. Lorenzen, who’s also drawn interest from the Orioles, makes as much sense as any fit on the market, but the Padres presumably have limited resources with which to work and holes in the outfield, on the bench and at designated hitter.
Motor City Beach Bum
If he pitches like he did in Detroit that would be a smart move.
JSC Cubbs
With any other manager than Melvin that win an extra 7 games last year just from winning half of those extra innings losses. Machado and Co. Tried to work past his decision making.
Yeah, they had bad luck too, but getting Melvin to leave was a huge win for the potential of this club.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I heard reports that Melvin delegated in-game decisions to his assistant manager/bench coach (esp during last two months). And pretty much checked himself out … it my have been fake news that I heard though.
foppert2
I would have thought an extra innings RISP hit or two would have won the extremely well paid Machado and Co. superstar lineup and extra game or 7.
Pete'sView
But that’s not how Lorenzen usually pitches. He’s awful and I hope the Padres sign him.
Motor City Beach Bum
Ummh no.
mlb fan
It wouldn’t surprise me if this new, cheaper version of the Padres outperforms the older, more expensive version of last year’s Padres. Of course that’s a fairly low bar.
User 1939973770
The Astros really need to sign another SP. There are too many question marks in the rotation. Will you get good Javier or 2023 Javier? Will Verlander stay healthy? Can Valdez overcome his triggers? Can Garcia/LMJ return, and if they do, will they stay healthy? Can Hunter Brown improve from a lackluster 2023 season?
stymeedone
You could question every major league pitcher. And it seems you are.
User 1939973770
Well because the Astros 2024 are looking like the 2023 postseason Dodgers.
James Midway
I would like this. Loren zen would be a good 4-5 guy. Unless Groome did something wild in the off-season, I don’t think he is a viable option. I like Avila, I would be interested to see what he can do with some more big league starts.
Gwynning
Let’s hope to not use Groome and wild in the same sentence ever again! Groome would be an excellent option for the 5 spot if he can limit his walks in ST. Just a hunch…
Longtimecoming
So funny with Groome – I watched him in ST and he was really effective and battled to the end for 5 spot / long man. Then the season started.
I like the idea of a Junis/Lorenzen/Cueto (any 2) for the 4/5 spots. SD has a LOT of options to fight for the 6th spot so surely 1 will hit.
Brew’88
haha Groome does wild thing
Longtimecoming
He has a very very very hot wife! Didn’t mind sitting next to her on the bleachers during a start at Peoria at all!!! Just looking thanks (my wife was with me too)!
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
LOL !! Why do baseball players tend to have the most attractive wives??? One of life’s mysteries I guess.
Brew88
U misspelled pretend
Gwynning
Let’s go Lorenzen! Would love to have him in SD. Maybe Yu can even teach him a new grip/pitch!
oldgfan
Ya maybe the football slider. Blah blah center grip. Blah blah stiff wrist, etc.
Brew’88
need LHP SP though
Gwynning
Brew- Groome might be more than bridesmaid…?
Brew’88
Unless he does something unwild in off-season he’s Snell without an out pitch
Gwynning
9.2 K/9 is fine, it’s the 7.5 BB/9 that can’t ever happen again!
>.<
Lets Go DBacks
And if not, dude was a decent hitter as well when we still had the pitcher hitting in the NL.
Gwynning
Lo can rake, for shizzle
Americanentropy
Can’t believe there is not a better internal option.
Longtimecoming
For 25 there are a lot of better options. Not really for 24. Similar to 23 where it was Wacha / Martinez / Lugo – all question marks for starting spots. They all just happened to hit it for a really awesome back of rotation mix.
HEHEHATE
Could have kept Martinez instead. Just Saying.
Wire to wire 2024
No take backs
Longtimecoming
He was a FA – not ours to “keep”. Players have choices too.
Americanentropy
Lorenzen is a back of the rotation guy who will command a lot of cash. Not sure his presence when you consider his contract is a positive difference maker.
Heels On The Field
If you’re not sure that your team’s success is all about your owner then study San Diego. The Padres share uniform colors with the Pirates and for most of their history payrolls as well. The death of their first owner who wanted the Padres to win destroyed them.
User 4095290658
Black versus brown/blue. Are you color blind?
Heels On The Field
Black and gold. Historic colors for both the Padres and Pirates.
User 4095290658
sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/gallery/pad…
Longtimecoming
I’ve been a Steelers fan since early 70’s when I was a kid and a Padres fan since 1988 when I moved to SD with USN.
So, I consider myself rather expertish here –
padres don’t have Black.
FanDan
Probably a Preller special coming. 10 years, $250 million. I would give this guy a minor league contract with an invite to camp. Not worth your time.
Motor City Beach Bum
I’d suggest uou look at his stats before the trade last year. He was pitching like a #3 or solid 4 starter. Problem was he’d never really pitched that much in his career prior to that. I think the workload took its toll later in the year.
Gwynning
I’d pin it down even further Bum and say he was spent after the 120-something pitches in his no-no… yeah, no-hitter in the Bigs last year and “not worth (our) time. Sure Dan.
I.M. Insane
.290 with 4 homers in 31 at bats in 2018. Combination 5th starter, middle-inning reliever and pinch hitter. You get three players for the price of one.
LambchoP
Twins could use him.
OldSaltUSN
I think Ruben Niebla will be Schildt’s secret weapon, for 2024. Niebla has the track record, which is why AJP (that nut! right?) brought him in. He was effective in creating perhaps the #2 staff in the majors, last year, and AJP is giving him a bunch of raw material, to do it again.
The Pads may not have the #1 or #2 pitching staff next year, but they shouldn’t need it, either. A “good” staff, and some outfield help, added to their current core, should be enough to get them to the playoffs.
Lorenzen will be a different pitcher, a BETTER pitcher, working for Niebla. For the 2024 Padres season, in Ruben Niebla, I trust.
CrikesAlready
Does he play shortstop?