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Free agents from AL West rivals the Texas Rangers could steal this winter

By Seth Carlson

Nov 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Rafael Montero (47) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in game five of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Rafael Montero (47) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in game five of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (25) throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (25) throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Free agents the Texas Rangers could steal from their AL West rivals

Los Angeles Angels

For a team that employs two of the most transcendent talents in baseball, you’d expect the Angels to do a lot more winning than they have in recent years. Wasting prime Mike Trout and a unicorn in Shohei Ohtani while now occupying baseball’s longest playoff drought? The Angels are a bona fide laughingstock. But even they have a player that could help the Texas Rangers.

That would be right-hander Michael Lorenzen.

On the surface, his 4.24 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 97.2 innings pitched/18 starts isn’t that impressive, but he had stretches where he was absolute money for the Angels in 2022. Lorenzen has plus stuff, including a heater that can reach the upper 90s in MPH, and new Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy knows a thing or two about how to get the most out of his pitchers.

Lorenzen is 30, so he should theoretically be hitting his prime as a pitcher. Not to mention, Texas has had recent success with veteran pitchers, turning them into quality starters. There’s no reason Lorenzen couldn’t be that for the Rangers in 2023, at a very affordable price tag.

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