There may still be some meat left on the bone for Thor’s MLB career.
MLB insider Robert Murray of FanSided said in his latest column this week that veteran right-hander Noah Syndergaard is receiving some free agent interest from two National League teams — the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres. Syndergaard, who threw a bullpen session for about 16 MLB teams in California this week, is a candidate for a one-year, prove-it deal, Murray adds.
The righty Syndergaard was an All-Star in 2016 with the New York Mets and, at his apex, was one of the game’s most feared fireballers. But he never quite regained his form after Tommy John surgery in 2020 and has bounced around four different teams in just the last two seasons alone. Most recently, Syndergaard, now 31, went 2-6 with an ugly 6.50 ERA in 18 total starts last season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians. He also went viral for some sad quotes about his struggles.
That said, the Pirates could use another righty after mainly signing lefties in free agency this winter. Meanwhile, the Padres figure to have a far stronger need after Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha both signed with the Kansas City Royals (Blake Snell and, to a lesser extent, Rich Hill are also still unsigned free agents). Either team looks like a possible candidate for a Syndergaard dart-throw.
