Grading the LA Angels’ pre-MLB lockout signings

Michael Lorenzen - One year/$6.75 million

Well this one was certainly a head scratcher. Still in need of another quality starting pitcher, the LA Angels front office instead went with a mediocre, sort of two-way player in Michael Lorenzen.

Not only has he not been a regular starter since his rookie season in 2015 (when he owned a 5.40 ERA), he hasn’t even been good as a reliever, most recently producing a 5.59 ERA in 27 appearances last year. 

Lorenzen is not much better offensively either. With a career .710 OPS, 84 wRC+ and only 11 extra base hits in 133 at-bats, he’s not exactly the next Shohei Ohtani.

There is one place, though, that Lorenzen actually shines. Defensively, he’s actually pretty okay in the outfield, having never made an error and owning a 4.9 UZR/150 in 96 innings of work.

Maybe Maddon will find a way to properly use him as a sort of piggyback pitcher and outfield replacement on days when Ohtani pitches and hits. Until that unprecedented strategy proves successful, however, Lorenzen’s signing remains underwhelming.

Grade: C-