Potential Houston Astros Target Frustratingly Signs with Division Rival Rangers

A potential Houston Astros starting pitching free agent target has signed with their divisional rivals the Texas Rangers.

The Houston Astros have missed out on another free agent starting pitcher. 

This time it was to their divisional rivals the Texas Rangers. 

According to The Athletic, the Rangers signed former Philadelphia Phillies starter Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $4.5 million deal that also includes up to $2.5 million in incentives. 

The Astros were rumored to have interest in Lorenzen after having missed out on Blake Snell to the San Francisco Giants who signed the two-time Cy Young winner to a two-year, $62 million deal. A price tag that Houston was unwilling to meet. 

Now, with Lorenzen off the board, they may pivot to someone like Mike Clevinger who remains on the market and is looking for a relatively cheap deal to re-establish his value at the MLB level. 

As for Texas, they adding some firepower to their rotation which is currently missing Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom, both of whom are due back later this summer. 

Lorenzen made his MLB All-Star debut last season while starting for the Detroit Tigers. That first half performance earned him a trade to the Phillies where he then threw a no-hitter on Aug. 9 against the Washington Nationals. 

Despite his strong start, Lorenzen had a significant drop-off in production down the stretch and pitched just 2.2 innings in the postseason as Philadelphia came within one game of returning to the World Series for a second-straight season. 

The righty made the transition from the bullpen to the rotation just two seasons ago and some questions still remain about whether or not he can stick in the role. He will get that opportunity with the Rangers while they await the return of their two perennial Cy Young candidates.