Padres News: Free agent starter buzz, Peter Seidler 2024 jersey patch

While other teams won't arrive for a couple more days, the San Diego Padres have already made the trip to Arizona. With the Friars opening the 2024 MLB season in Seoul, both San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers got a head start this spring.

The Padres are settling in to their spring training home in Peoria, with pitchers and catchers reporting this past Sunday. While the Padres have a plethora of pitchers to choose from in order to fill out the team's starting rotation, there are some definite holes.

San Diego added some young arms in the offseason trade with the New York Yankees, but the back end of the Padres bullpen feels rather light. Some recent rumblings suggest AJ Preller may be kicking the tires on some veteran hurlers. The Padres have also revealed a meaningful way to honor their late owner, Pete Seidler.

Padres News: Noah Syndergaard & Michael Lorenzen drawing interest from San Diego

Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are not the only quality starting pitchers still available on the open market. According to CBS Sports, the Padres have shown interest in both Noah Syndergaard ands Michael Lorenzen. The duo certainly represent a step down in terms of overall ability when compared to Snell and Montgomery, but there's also a sharp decline in salary expectations.

Snell and Montgomery are looking for multi-year deals that range anywhere from $150 million to $250 million. The Friars aren't spending that kind of money this offseason. But Syndergaard and Lorenzen would come much cheaper, and probably only require a one- or two-year commitment.

Syndergaard is far from the dominant pitcher many baseball fans remember from his time with the New York Mets. Last season, the pitcher formerly known as Thor only averaged a little over 92 MPH on his fastball, according to Baseball Savant. Syndergaard eclipsed just over 88 innings of work, but posted a 4.9% walk rate.

Lorenzen tossed a no-hitter in 2023 while pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies. But almost instantly after accomplishing that career-defining feat, the wheels came off. Lorenzen was eventually relegated to a bullpen, but racked up over 150 innings pitched and 4.18 ERA in 29 games, including 25 starts.

Padres News: Peter Seidler 2024 jersey patch

The Padres revealed a patch that will be worn on their uniforms throughout the 2024 season to honor the team's late owner, Peter Seidler, who passed away on Nov. 14, 2023. The patch, according to The Athletic (subscription required), will have Seidler's initials, PS, inside a heart-shaped design.

The team also announced a celebration of Seidler's life will be held at Petco Park on March 23. The Padres will then play two exhibition games against the Seattle Mariners on the days to follow, and be on the field for their home opener later that week.

The 2024 season can't arrive soon enough.