Could the Dodgers bring in Michael Lorenzen?

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ top priority ahead of the 2024 season was to reinforce the starting pitching rotation, after being swept away in the first round of the playoffs by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The franchise’s main objective was to sign star pitchers during free agency and so far, they have managed to fulfill it.

The Dodgers spent more than a billion dollars on two players, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Two pitchers who can mark an era in Major League Baseball over the next decade and they also added right-hander Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays.

However, Ohtani is recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and won’t be able to pitch until the 2025 season. The Dodgers are missing a starter to fill next year’s pitching rotation that currently consists of Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow. There is one slot left which the Dodgers could fill by enlisting free agent Michael Lorenzen.

Waiting for Kershaw

According to MLB Network, the Los Angeles franchise is interested in the right-handed pitcher to complete the starting rotation. Lorenzen played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers last season. In 18 appearances for the Tigers he had an ERA of 3.48 and a WHIP of 1.10. The Dodgers believe he can still pitch better than he showed last year with both teams.

The Dodgers know they need a left-handed pitcher to fill out the rotation and are confident Clayton Kershaw will return for the second half of the season. For that reason, bringing in Michael Lorenzen could serve to fill that space in the first few months even though he is a right-handed pitcher.