With top pitching free agents Blake Snell and Max Fried already off the market, the cost for remaining starting pitchers has surged. If the Philadelphia Phillies are still eyeing a rotation upgrade for the 2025 season, they’ll need to move quickly to avoid being priced out.
Fortunately, there are still solid, affordable options available. FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray has highlighted one under-the-radar candidate: former Phillies pitcher.
“With the prices of free-agent starting pitchers very high, one under-the-radar option to monitor is right-hander,” Murray writes.
Phillies fans may recall his rocky tenure following the 2023 trade deadline, where he initially dazzled with a no-hitter in his second start before struggling mightily. Over 11 appearances (seven starts), Lorenzen posted a 5.51 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, allowing 29 earned runs and 20 walks over 47 1/3 innings. His postseason contributions were minimal, appearing in just two games.
However, Lorenzen rebounded in 2024, splitting the season between the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. He finished with a 7-6 record, a strong 3.31 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings. After joining Kansas City at the trade deadline, Lorenzen was particularly impressive, going 2-0 with a stellar 1.57 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, surrendering just five earned runs and striking out 22 in 28 2/3 innings. His success was largely attributed to adjustments in his pitch mix, dropping his slider and increasing the use of his sweeper.
Lorenzen’s 2024 salary was a modest $4.5 million on a one-year deal with Texas, and while he’s likely to receive a raise, he remains far more affordable than top-tier arms like Snell and Fried. If the Phillies believe Lorenzen’s adjustments are sustainable, a reunion could offer a low-risk, high-reward addition to their rotation for 2025.
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