Former Detroit Tigers pitcher remains stubborn as Spring Training progresses

The Detroit Tigers' rotation is working itself out. They have several options, including a potential six-man rotation. That potential rotation is still being worked on as the spring continues. However, one of their former pitchers is looking to find himself a home still ahead of the 2024 season.

Michael Lorenzen had not suited up for the Detroit Tigers since the 2023 season when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. This came after Lorenzen settled in well, signing with the Tigers ahead of the 2023 season. He converted from a reliever role to a starter and started to prove his own after converting with the Los Angeles Angels in 2022.

But Lorenzen settled in with Detroit and served as the team's unofficial ace for a chunk of the 2023 season. His performance made him an All-Star in 2023. He was able to string together a bunch of good starts with Detroit, becoming trade bait for the deadline.

Before being traded, Lorenzen made 18 starts for the Tigers, where he pitched to a 3.58 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He also walked 27 batters while striking out 83 opposing hitters in 105.2 innings pitched. He spent the rest of the season with the Phillies when the Tigers moved him.

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Lorenzen is looking for a two-year deal.

His one-year deal expired last fall, and he hit the open market, looking to sign a deal elsewhere. There were some initial rumblings about Lorenzen returning to Detroit in 2024, but nothing came to fruition. The Tigers opted to sign Kenta Maeda to a multi-year deal and Jack Flaherty on a prove-it contract.

Lorenzen has remained on the market. With Spring Training underway, there was an expectation that the final pieces of the offseason would start to settle. However, Lorenzen has yet to finalize a deal for the 2024 season, remaining a free agent.

From the sounds of it, Lorenzen is betting on himself, continuing his hold out with the hopes of signing a two-year deal. There's an expectation for Lorenzen that he could net a two-year deal around the $18-22 million range if things land the right way.

With a couple of big-name arms still on the free-agent market, the former Detroit pitcher is hoping to be a consolation prize for a team. While the Tigers may not be in the market for another big-league arm like Lorenzen, he was solid for Detroit last season and deserves a contract somewhere.