Ranking MLB Free Agent, Trade Options at SP After Corbin Burnes to Diamondbacks

10. RHP Michael Lorenzen, free agent (age: 32)

Stats: 26 G, 24 GS, 7-6, 3.31 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 60 BB, 97 K, 130.1 IP, 2.6 WAR

After an All-Star selection in 2023, Lorenzen was one of the last notable free agents to sign last winter, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million with the Rangers on the 22 March. just 18.1 percent of the batters he faced last season, but he’s a solid back-rotation option capable of pitching above that level at times.

9. RHP Justin Verlander, free agent (age: 41)

Stats: 17 GS, 5-6, 5.48 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 27 BB, 74 K, 90.1 IP, -0.3 WAR

Verlander had a 4.16 ERA over 67 innings in his first 12 starts in 2024 before a brutal September, so his overall performance wasn’t as bad as his final numbers might suggest. He no longer possesses elite speed, but he’s a future Hall of Famer who can throw, and he’s still capable of being an effective option in the backfield.

8. RHP Max Scherzer, free agent (age: 40)

Stats: 9 GS, 2-4, 3.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 10 BB, 40 K, 43.1 IP, 0.4 WAR

A shoulder issue limited Scherzer to just nine starts last season, so his health is a question mark, but he was still an effective option when he took the mound. He profiles more as a four or five inning guy at this point rather than a workhorse, but in the right situation he can still be an asset to the staff.

7. LHP Andrew Heaney, free agent (age: 33)

Stats: 32 G, 31 GS, 5-14, 4.28 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 41 BB, 159 K, 160.0 IP, 0.8 WAR

Heaney led a struggling Rangers team to 31 starts and eclipsed 150 innings pitched for the second time in his career in 2024, and he has more than earned his two-year, $25 million contract over the past two seasons. With 1,070 strikeouts in 1,014.1 career innings, he’s still missed a lot of at-bats and he could provide solid value in a similar deal.

6. RHP Erick Fedde, commercial candidate (age: 31)

Stats: 31 GS, 9-9, 3.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 52 BB, 154 K, 177.1 IP, 5.6 WAR

Fedde earned KBO MVP honors in 2023 when he finished 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in 180.1 innings, and he returned to the United States with a different pitcher last year after signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the White Sox. . He was traded to the Cardinals at the 2024 deadline, and now that they’re heading toward a youth move, he’s squarely on the trading block and enjoying broad appeal thanks to a $7.5 million salary. team-friendly dollars.