The New York Yankees are in search of an All-Star pitcher to bolster their starting rotation after receiving unfortunate news last week. Gerrit Cole, the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner, will be sidelined for at least one or two months due to an elbow injury. Various pitchers have been linked to potentially fill Cole’s void, with Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, being the most prominent candidate discussed. However, Snell seems like an improbable choice due to his high asking price. Instead, the Yankees have shifted their focus to Michael Lorenzen, a former All-Star pitcher who is currently a free agent.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Yankees have not pursued further negotiations for Snell and are showing interest in signing Lorenzen. Lorenzen had an impressive 2023 season, splitting his time between the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. He transitioned from the bullpen to the starting rotation in 2022 and earned his first All-Star nod last season.

Lorenzen’s performance with the Tigers was notable, boasting a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts before being traded to the Phillies. Although his stint with Philadelphia saw a rise in ERA to 5.51 over 11 appearances, he did achieve a remarkable feat by pitching a no-hitter. Given New York’s current need for pitching depth, Lorenzen presents an appealing option, especially considering he may come at a relatively low cost. It seems prudent for the Yankees to consider giving him a chance before other teams potentially snatch him up.