Orioles Rumored Free Agent Target Reportedly Seeking Multi-Year Contract
The Baltimore Orioles will be down two of their projected starting pitchers to begin the 2024 campaign.
Kyle Bradish is progressing in his elbow injury recovery but will still start the year on the injured list, and John Means likely won't be back until some point in April with his own elbow issues.
The plan right now is to move some bullpen pieces into the rotation until their two starters are able to return.
However, this is a huge year for the Orioles and they need to be prepared for the worst case scenario that Bradish might miss more time than expected.
They were linked to free agent Michael Lorenzen who is coming off his best season as a starter with the Detroit Tigers and then Philadelphia Phillies.
His struggles to close the year might have soured some teams in their pursuit of the veteran, especially considering he threw his career-high in innings with 153.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic also reported that he is looking for a multi-year contract that might be somewhere in the $20 million range.
"Free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen continues to seek a two-year deal, according to sources briefed on his intentions," he wrote.
He was paid $9.25 million in 2023 and earned his first All-Star selection after posting an ERA of 3.58 across 18 innings pitched with the Tigers. Rosenthal thinks he could be looking for a bump in salary that gets him to the Average Annual Value of roughly $10 million.
The 32-year-old seems like the perfect candidate for the back-end of Baltimore's rotation, fitting the mold of players they have added in the past. Lorenzen wants to be a starting pitcher moving forward and could fill that "innings eater" type of role that Kyle Gibson had last season.
The Orioles might not be interested in that at this point in time, though.
If Bradish and Means are able to come back healthy and maintain their positions in the starting rotation, then Lorenzen would be moved into the bullpen.
It would be hard to commit that much capital to someone who would likely only be used in case of emergency during his multi-year deal.
