The San Diego Padres have once again failed to secure a desired free agent starting pitcher.
Right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen has agreed to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million with the Texas Rangers. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic broke the news of the deal.
Lorenzen had been considered a potential target for the Padres, but their recent acquisition of right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease made their pursuit less urgent.
Nevertheless, the Padres could have benefitted from the additional starting pitching depth, and Lorenzen, at that price point, would have been a promising option.
Lorenzen’s performance in the 2023 season, where he earned his first All-Star selection with the Detroit Tigers, is noteworthy. He posted a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies mid-season.
While his time in Philadelphia saw some struggles, including a 5.51 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched, Lorenzen managed to pitch a no-hitter in early August.
Due to a lack of significant interest from other teams, Lorenzen opted for a one-year contract with hopes of revisiting the free-agent market next year for a potentially more lucrative deal.
The Padres could have certainly benefited from adding a pitcher with Lorenzen’s potential at such a reasonable price, but instead, he will be joining the Texas Rangers.
