Noah

Syndergaard

The 32-year-old hurler had signed a minor league deal with the White Sox back in late June. Syndergaard made six minor league rehab starts between the team’s Rookie League affiliate and Triple-A Charlotte, posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 14/2 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 innings. It’s possible that some team desperate for rotation depth could come calling and take a flier on him on what would almost certainly have to be a minor league deal.

Early in the offseason, it was reported that Syndergaard had lost 30 pounds and was hoping to make a comeback, but apparently no team had taken an interest. Until now. The 32-year-old is hoping not to end his professional career with the 6.50 ERA and 1.39 WHIP he put together with the Guardians and Dodgers in 2023. He will report to the White Sox complex in Arizona before the team determines which minor league club to start him at. While it would be nice to see Thor on an MLB mound again, it’s unlikely that he would have any fantasy relevance.

The 32-year-old right-hander has been working out in Texas since the summer and is hopeful for a return to a big-league rotation in 2025. The last time we saw Syndergaard on the mound he registered a 6.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 56/19 K/BB ratio across 88 2/3 innings between the Guardians and Dodgers during the 2023 campaign. Stranger things have happened, but Syndergaard’s return to fantasy relevance seems highly unlikely.

There were plenty of reports last winter about teams being interested in Syndergaard, but none ever panned out, perhaps because the former All-Star wasn’t interested in taking a minor league deal. Syndergaard had a 6.50 ERA in 18 starts for the Dodgers and Guardians last year.

The Padres desperately need starting rotation help after losing Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha this winter, and all signs point to Blake Snell moving on as well. San Diego has also expressed interest in lower-tier free agents Michael Lorenzen, Eric Lauer, and Hyun Jin Ryu. Syndergaard threw a bullpen session in late January for interested teams and reportedly sat between 93-95 mph with his fastball. The right-hander is looking to have a bounce back season after posting a 6.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 56/19 k/BB ratio over 88 2/3 innings with the Dodgers and Guardians.

Syndergaard — along with Michael Lorenzen — threw a bullpen session in front of representatives of around 16 teams on Tuesday in California. During that session, the 31-year-old right-hander sat consistently between 93-95 mph with his fastball and looked good by all accounts. Syndergaard registered a horrific 6.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 56/19 K/BB ratio over 88 2/3 innings between the Dodgers and Guardians in 2023. He’ll almost assuredly have to settle for a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training at this point — even if it is from the Pirates.

Murray notes that around 16 teams had representatives on hand to watch the sessions. Lorenzen’s market has been awfully quiet this winter — especially since he made the American League All-Star squad and threw a no-hitter in 2023 while posting a 4.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 111/47 K/BB ratio over 153 innings between the Tigers and Phillies. The 32-year-old hurler should still be a viable addition to many starting rotations around the league. The lack of interest in Syndergaard on the other hand, isn’t surprising given how poorly he pitched in 2023.

In other words, teams that aren’t shopping at the top of the free agent pitching market and are hoping to score a lottery ticket, could be interested in bringing in the 31-year-old hurler. Syndergaard had an abysmal 2023 season for the Dodgers and Guardians — registering a 6.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 56/19 K/BB ratio over 88 2/3 innings in 18 starts. Stranger things have happened, but expecting Syndergaard to deliver any sort of fantasy value in 2024 seems like a fool’s errand.

Syndergaard unsurprisingly went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week by the Guardians following a calamitous six-start run in Cleveland. It’s highly unlikely there will be any interest on the open market over the final month of the 2023 campaign.

The announcement came quickly after the conclusion of Sunday’s game, in which Syndergaard gave up five runs in six innings versus the Blue Jays. Syndergaard’s brief stint with the Guardians concludes with him having given up 20 earned runs in 33 1/3 innings. He allowed 10 homers and struck out just 18 batters. Cal Quantrill will likely come off the injured list next week to replace him in the rotation.