Orioles Reportedly Pursuing Proven Veteran Starting Pitcher
The Baltimore Orioles remain active on the free-agent pitching market, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. With Dylan Cease and Corbin Burnes likely not being traded this offseason, the Orioles now have their eyes set on a different arm.
According to Morosi, Baltimore has interest in Michael Lorenzen.
The 32-year-old last pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. He started the season with the Detroit Tigers and was named an All-Star for the first time in his nine-year MLB career, before getting shipped to the Phillies at the trade deadline.
With the Tigers, Lorenzen posted an impressive 3.58 ERA in 105 2/3 innings. His time with Philadelphia was unimpressive, despite the no-hitter that he threw in his second start after joining the team. Across 11 appearances and seven starts, he posted a 5.51 ERA in 47 1/3 innings.
At this stage in his career, Lorenzen seems to be a 4.00-4.50 ERA type of arm. He showed promise in Detroit, but after his short stint with the Phillies, it's not a guarantee that whatever team signs him will get the All-Star type of production he showed early on during 2023.
For the Orioles, Lorenzen would be an interesting addition.
If they can sign him to a cheap deal, it doesn't do them much harm. While he's not the ace that they clearly need, he's not going to give them bad innings.
Lorenzen tossed 153 innings in 2023, the most of his career. That's another concern as it's uncertain how he'll hold up with another 150-plus inning season.
But, there aren't many more options out there for Baltimore unless they pay Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery.
That doesn't seem to be the case at this point in the offseason and they likely will target back-end rotation additions.
