Phillies’ Rival Mets Targeting Their Former Pitcher
During last year’s trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies’ key acquisition was securing All-Star starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers. This move bolstered their pitching rotation depth for the remaining season and provided them with increased flexibility in managing their pitchers during the postseason.
Initially boasting a 3.58 ERA from 18 starts, Lorenzen’s time with the Phillies started off impressively as he only allowed two runs in eight innings in his debut and even pitched a no-hitter in his second game. Regrettably, this marked the pinnacle of success for the right-handed pitcher during his stint with Philadelphia.
His struggles have been extensively documented since then, leading to his demotion from the starting rotation to the bullpen. This may explain why he is currently without a team in 2024.
However, as reported by Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic, there have been discussions between him and the New York Mets, a division rival of the Phillies. The Mets, facing an injury to Kodai Senga necessitating a three-week shutdown, are in need of additional pitching support, and Lorenzen could potentially fill that role. Nonetheless, the authors cautioned that the talks may not be as promising as they initially seemed, suggesting that the communication could be more about staying connected in case of future injuries rather than indicating immediate serious interest.
It’s surprising that the 2023 All-Star remains unsigned despite posting consecutive seasons with a 4.24 ERA in 2022 as a first-time starter and a 4.18 ERA in the subsequent year. Lorenzen appears to be a strong candidate for a backend rotation position where he can log significant innings. Nevertheless, as the new season approaches, he continues to seek a new team, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding his next landing spot.
