With Justin Verlander going from the New York Mets to the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers righty Michael Lorenzen became one of the top arms available.
Well, that was until the Philadelphia Phillies decided to make a move and get Lorenzen for their rotation.
“The Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a trade to acquire right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers, sources tell ESPN,” MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted.
The Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a trade to acquire right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 1, 2023
There is still no official word on the return package going to Detroit, but it is likely centered around prospects.
The last few hours have been centered around teams like the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Phillies were quiet, looking for the perfect moment to make a move.
They just did.
People often forget they were two wins away from winning the World Series in 2022 and still have a championship-caliber core.
With Lorenzen, they get a solid mid-rotation starter to help them navigate through the calendar.
Lorenzen has a good 3.58 ERA in 105.2 frames this season on a mediocre team like the Tigers.
He is now joining a true contender, one that is second in the NL East with a 57-49 record.
He will share the same rotation as Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, and Ranger Suarez, among others.
It’s a very good group for what is coming: a fierce fight for a Wild Card spot.
At this point, it’s safe to say the division crown is the Atlanta Braves’ to lose, but Philadelphia has a path towards making a similar run as last year with Lorenzen in the fold.
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MLB Analyst Discusses Phillies Potential Trade Deadline Plans