Breaking: Tampa Bay Rays nearing deal to sign 2 All-Star pitchers in free agency

Many of the top pitchers in MLB free agency are still available with spring training underway. With the 2024 MLB schedule fast approaching, it appears the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays are among the clubs to watch for some of the best starting pitchers still available.

Blake Snell, Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen are just a few of the top arms on the open market right now, with the three aforementioned names all having All-Star Game appearances on their resumes. While Snell’s long wait is largely contract-related and could lead to a drawn-out process that extends for weeks, others could soon find homes.

• Michael Lorenzen stats 2023: 4.18 ERA< 1.21 WHIP, 111 strikeouts in 153 innings pitched

Appearing on MLB Network, Jon Morisi shared his belief that Lorenzen and Syndergaard will likely be signed sooner than Snell. As for what MLB teams are interested in, a few stood out with either reported interest or an active pursuit of pitching depth.

“A number of teams out there lookhing for help. Padres, Pirates, Twins, Cubs, Rays. I was told over the weekend, all looking at different starting pitching options…The Padres, for me, given the uncertainty of some of their key guys coming back and of course not having Blake Snell on their roster any longer, the Padres are a very clear fit.”

One important point raised by Morosi is that Lorenzen and Syndergaard are specifically in the price range of teams like the Twins, Rays and Padres. Minnesota has had to be tighter with its payroll because of long-term uncertainty with its TV rights deal, while San Diego shed massive payroll this offseason and Tampa Bay always operates with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.

• Noah Syndergaard stats 2023: 6.50 ERA< 1.39 WHIP, 2-6 record in 88.2 innings pitched

Lorenzen is likely the preferred option among clubs. Not only did he throw a no-hitter last season, but the 32-year-old righty was a much more effective starter than Syndergaard. However, after posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 18 starts with the Detroit Tigers, Lorenzen struggled (5.51 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

As for Syndergaard, the former All-Star pitcher was one of the worst starters in baseball last season. Across 18 starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians, he allowed 64 earned runs in 88 innings pitched. However, he would at least provide depth to teams with a lot of uncertainty at the back end of their rotation.