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News Reports: The Padres are one of the teams expressing
December 25, 2024
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San Diego Padres new manager Mike Shildt speaks during a news conference to announce his hiring, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

The Padres have shown interest in free agent right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen as they seek to complete their rotation, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The 32-year-old Lorenzen is one of the notable free-agent starting pitchers who have yet to sign this offseason.

Lorenzen is entering free agency for the third consecutive offseason. Having spent much of his career as a setup man with the Reds, he entered the market two winters ago in pursuit of an opportunity to return to a starting role, the position where he initially made his mark in the majors as a rookie. This quest led to a one-year, $6.75 million deal with the Angels, which yielded positive results but was cut short at 97 2/3 innings due to a shoulder strain.

Last offseason, Lorenzen opted for another one-year contract, securing an $8.5 million guarantee with the Tigers. While his end-of-season statistics appear respectable — a 4.18 ERA, a 17.8% strikeout rate, and a 7.5% walk rate — they may not fully capture the complexities of his performance throughout the season.

A strong first half, coupled with the generally unremarkable Tigers roster, not only earned Lorenzen his first All-Star Game appearance but also made him an attractive trade candidate in relatively high demand. During his time with the Tigers, Lorenzen maintained a 3.80 ERA, pitching 105 2/3 innings across 18 starts (averaging 5 2/3 innings per outing) while striking out 20% of opponents and walking 6.5% of batters.

Subsequently, the Phillies acquired him to bolster their rotation for the latter part of the season. Initially, the trade seemed like a brilliant move, especially after Lorenzen’s outstanding debut, where he pitched eight innings of two-run ball against a competitive Marlins team. In an impressive follow-up, he threw a no-hitter in his second start against the Nationals, solidifying his status as an immediate success for the Phillies. However, things took a turn for the worse soon after.

Whether attributed to an exceptionally high workload, a minor injury, or a period of poor performance, Lorenzen experienced a significant decline, prompting the Phillies to reassign him to the bullpen. In the five starts following his 124-pitch no-hitter, Lorenzen allowed 26 runs (23 earned) on 37 hits and 11 walks, with only 14 strikeouts in 26 innings.

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