*Photo from Red Reporter*
The Los Angeles Angels desperately need pitching help, both starting and relief pitching. Well, they sure are making upgrades this offseason. The Angels and RHP Michael Lorenzen have agreed to a one year, $6.75 million deal, according to an announcement made by the team.
Lorenzen brings both starting and relief experience to the Angels, but he was signed with the intention of bringing him into the starting rotation rather than making him a reliever, despite having only made 26 starts in his career. It's also a homecoming for Lorenzen, who played college baseball for Cal State Fullerton, and was born in Anaheim, so he'll play in his home city 81 games out of the year.
Angels GM Perry Minasian said of Lorenzen that "I've always admired the power arm, the stuff, the pitch mix. We feel like a transition to a starter, which is what he's been dying to do, was warranted. We do think there's some things there from a pitch-mix standpoint, delivery standpoint, that we can enhance. Obviously, there's risk that you're taking them out of their role, but I think we've in the past we've seen players transition and really be successful."
After suffering a shoulder strain, which had kept him out of action until July, Lorenzen pitched exclusively out of the bullpen last season. He finished with a 1-2 record with a 5.59 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, striking out 21 hitters while throwing 29 innings in 27 relief appearances for the Cincinnati Reds last season, also picking up 4 saves down the stretch.
In 7 big league seasons, all with the Reds, Lorenzen has a 23-23 record with 406 strikeouts, posting a 4.07 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, throwing 473 1/3 innings in 26 starts and 269 relief appearances. In two relief appearances in the playoffs, Lorenzen has thrown 2 2/3 innings, coming in the 2020 Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves, which the Reds lost.
Lorenzen doesn't just pitch however. He can also hit. While his shoulder injury limited him to just one at bat last season, he has previously been a sight to see at the plate. Lorenzen has a career .233 batting average with a .710 OPS, slugging .429 and hitting 7 home runs, driving in 24 in 321 games as a hitter. Lorenzen can be utilized as a pinch hitter when Shohei Ohtani pitches and hits for himself in a game, so that the Angels don't have to lose the DH when Ohtani has to come out.
Minasian said of Lorenzen's two way ability that "He can do a lot of things on a baseball field. He can play the outfield. He can swing a bat. We have a really creative manager that's not afraid to experiment to a certain extent. I think that combination is good and the more flexibility you have on your roster, the better off you are. But at the end of the day, it's about his pitching and what we feel like can bring to the rotation."
Lorenzen will slide into a Angels rotation that has been improved this offseason, but still needs help. Ohtani, Lorenzen, and newly signed Noah Syndergaard form the top 3, with Patrick Sandoval, Griffin Canning, Jose Suarez, Jaime Barria, and Reid Detmers all in the mix for starts.
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