BREAKING NEWS: Rangers Confirms The Signing Of MLB Top Star In Free Agency
Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen has made headlines with a late-night/early-morning agreement with the Texas Rangers.
As reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and MLB on FOX, Lorenzen and the reigning World Series champions are finalizing a one-year contract valued at $4.5 million. The agreement, pending a physical, includes incentives that could potentially boost the deal to $7 million. At present, the Rangers have not officially confirmed the signing.
At 32 years old, Lorenzen is expected to bolster the Rangers’ bullpen and provide depth as both a long reliever and rotation option if necessary. Roster Resource anticipates him occupying the eighth spot in the Rangers’ bullpen as they head into the upcoming season. With Opening Day approaching, the Rangers find themselves without Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. Their current rotation is comprised of Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning, and Cody Bradford, with depth concerns according to MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry.
Free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen in agreement with Rangers on one-year, $4.5M contract, pending physical, source tells @TheAthletic. Deal includes $2.5M in incentives, maxes out at $7M.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 21, 2024
Lorenzen’s free-agent ordeal is finally over
As Ken Rosenthal reported for The Athletic on March 5, Michael Lorenzen, despite his brief tenure with the Phillies, had initially aimed for a more lucrative two-year contract worth $20 million. However, in line with recent trends in the free agent market, players have found themselves accepting smaller deals compared to their initial demands. Even prominent names like Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, and Cody Bellinger have had to settle for reduced salaries and shorter contract terms, making it challenging for Lorenzen to secure his desired deal.
Following Gerrit Cole’s injury news, the New York Yankees reportedly expressed interest in Lorenzen, as noted by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. However, no further developments regarding the Yankees’ pursuit of Lorenzen were reported.
As Lorenzen enters his 10th MLB season, he aims to bounce back from a disappointing performance during his time with the Phillies. Despite starting strong with notable outings, including contributing to the franchise’s 14th no-hitter, Lorenzen struggled down the stretch. He recorded a concerning 8.01 ERA over his last nine appearances, which were split between starting and bullpen roles.
Overall, Lorenzen concluded his stint with the Phillies with a 5.51 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and only 28 strikeouts across 47 1/3 regular-season innings. Although his postseason performance showed improvement, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings, Lorenzen’s inconsistency during the regular season reflects a challenging period for the seasoned pitcher.