Why Aren't Baltimore Orioles Pursuing This All-Star Starting Pitcher?
The Baltimore Orioles have some questions about their starting rotation heading into the start of the season.
That's not something that people expected to hear following their acquisition of Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers.
But, injuries to Kyle Bradish and John Means have forced the coaching staff to move some players around to fill in for them while they miss time at the beginning of the year.
If everything goes to plan, both starters will miss a couple starts and be able to resume their spot in the Orioles' rotation, sending the relievers who stepped up back into the bullpen.
However, front offices need to plan for the worst case scenario.
What happens if Bradish's elbow doesn't recover like expected and Means isn't able to produce at the level he once did before Tommy John surgery?
If that's the case, then they need different options.
One still available is All-Star starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen.
The right-hander is coming off the best season of his career after early success with the Detroit Tigers that got him sent to the Philadelphia Phillies as a trade deadline move.
He ultimately finished with a 4.18 ERA across 29 appearances and 25 starts. His ERA+ of 105 over 153 innings suggests he was an above-average starter.
Lorenzen also fits the back-of-the-rotation type of mold that Mike Elias has targeted in the past, being someone who can eat innings and fill in during testy points of the year.
The hold up probably comes from the veteran wanting a two-year deal with a guarantee to start.
Baltimore can't outright promise that.
Bradish and Means could come back healthy like in their best-case scenario, and the rotation would be full once again, but there's no reason why they couldn't offer him a one-year contract with opt out clauses similar to what Blake Snell just signed.
Adding Lorenzen would certainly make this situation much more palatable as they are playing the waiting game on the return of their two starters.
