Giants Linked to Projected $22 Million All-Star Pitcher

The San Francisco Giants have made significant upgrades to their 2024 squad. While Farhan Zaidi, president of baseball operations, has made several changes to improve the starting rotation, there are still many doubts ahead of Opening Day. Could 2023 All-Star hurler Michael Lorenzen be a viable choice for securing this region of the club?

According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, the right-handed pitcher could be a good fit for San Francisco. “But Lorenzen, a player that the Giants have liked in previous offseasons, could make the most sense and would not break the bank on a short-term deal,” the agent said.

This winter, San Francisco added Robbie Ray and Jodan Hicks to their rotation through trades and free agency. However, both have real question marks associated with them. Ray is rehabilitating after Tommy John surgery. He won’t be back on a major league mound until at least the summer. Hicks is moving back from the bullpen to the rotation. In his MLB career, he has only started eight games, all in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

A competitor evaluator told Murray that the Giants only have 2.5 starting pitchers, including Hicks, Logan Webb, and Kyle Harrison.On November 6, MLB Trade Rumors anticipated Lorenzen will receive a two-year contract for $22 million as a free agent.

Lorenzen Would Enjoy Pitching at Oracle Park

Lorenzen, who represented the Detroit Tigers in the 2023 All-Star Game, joined the Philadelphia Phillies shortly before the trade deadline. Aside from throwing a no-hitter for the club, his time in the City of Brotherly Love was not without its challenges.

He had a 3.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 105 innings prior to the move. Following the deal, he posted a 5.51 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 47.1 innings. Lorenzen’s home runs allowed per nine innings rate increased from 0.9 in Detroit to 1.7 at Philadelphia.

In 2023, he had a career high fly-ball rate of 38.6%, according to FanGraphs. If there is one area where that would not necessarily result in more home runs, it’s Oracle Park. According to Statcast, it has been the fourth-toughest MLB ballpark for home runs since 2021. If Lorenzen’s enhanced fly ball production continues in 2024, it will benefit him with the Giants.

 

What About Snell or Montgomery?

Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain the top two starting pitchers on the free agent market. Why wouldn’t the Giants simply sign one of them to help with their rotation issues?Snell’s apparent desire is to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, although San Francisco remains interested in the southpaw.

According to Zaidi’s comments on March 3, the club has completed its big acquisitions. “We talked all offseason and were quite clear that our aim was to continue to graduate some of our young players. “The offseason is over,” he told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on X (previously Twitter).

After signing third baseman Matt Chapman, Zaidi suggested dealing an infielder as a potential next move.

It seemed doubtful that the Giants would pursue Snell or Montgomery to cap their offseason. Adding another pitcher on a team-friendly short-term contract might help with their apparent lack of rotation depth right now, however.