The Boston Red Sox have faced numerous setbacks in bidding wars this offseason, putting their rotation upgrade plans in a challenging position. Despite the historically slow movement in the free-agent market, there’s still an opportunity for Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow to bring in impactful players before spring training.
Although Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are considered top choices, the team is likely to explore the middle tier of free agency. Within this category, right-hander Michael Lorenzen emerges as a noteworthy candidate for replacing James Paxton, given his impressive performance during an All-Star campaign.
In a combined effort with the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies, Michael Lorenzen recorded a 4.18 ERA, showcasing a notable 111-to-47 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .265 batting average against, and a 1.46 WHIP over 153 innings. Despite his slightly above-average starter status reflected by a 105 ERA+, Lorenzen’s journey to this point has been unconventional.
Heading into the trade deadline, the 32-year-old pitcher maintained a promising 3.58 ERA across 18 starts with the Detroit Tigers, suggesting a potentially lucrative contract year for him.
Following his trade to Philadelphia at the deadline, Michael Lorenzen made a strong initial impact, allowing just two runs over eight innings in his team debut and achieving a no-hitter in his second start for the Phillies. During this period, it seemed like his career was reaching its peak.
However, the remainder of the regular season saw Lorenzen struggle, posting an 8.01 ERA over 30 1/3 innings, which significantly affected the overall impression of his otherwise impressive season. Despite managing to contribute 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the postseason through two relief outings, his time with the Phillies had a negative impact on his outlook heading into free agency.
The Red Sox previously took a gamble on Lucas Giolito, and it might be prudent for them to consider investing in another high-potential player if they are reluctant to allocate funds towards acquiring the star duo of Snell and Montgomery.
