After losing Shane Bieber, Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb to free agency, the Cleveland Guardians rotation needs some fresh arms.
Yes, they still have Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, Joey Cantillo and reclamation projects such as Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen, but they need at least a couple of proven, quality arms to complete the staff and elevate its floor.
The Guards might not have money to compete for the Blake Snells or Corbin Burneses of the world, but they have creativity and a top-notch player development system, especially on the pitching side of things.
They are as likely to get a mid-tier arm and turn it into an underrated star as any other team in baseball.
That’s why MLB insider Mark Feinsand suggested a specific pitcher might be a good fit in Cleveland in a recent article.
One free agent who could make sense for every team https://t.co/zQKf9dLEkc
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 25, 2024
He named Michael Lorenzen for the Guardians, and it makes sense.
“The potential loss of Shane Bieber and Matthew Boyd will leave Cleveland not only with holes to fill in the rotation, but also a veteran presence on the staff. Lorenzen pitched well for the Rangers (3.81 ERA in 101 2/3 innings) and even better for the Royals (1.57 ERA in 28 2/3 innings) following a midseason trade, though a hamstring injury kept him out for most of September,” he wrote.
Lorenzen isn’t a young prospect anymore: he is 32 years old.
He has accumulated plenty of experience over the year but can still benefit from a team that helps him reach the best version of himself, a squad that helps him maximize his talent and improve each one of his pitches.
That squad might very well be the Guardians.
Lorenzen, a career 3.99 ERA pitcher, has a lot to give Cleveland and vice versa.
NEXT: Guardians Re-Sign Promising Player With Important Caveat
