Michael Lorenzen is one of the top rental starting pitchers who could move between now and the August 1 trade deadline. The Rays and Astros are among the contending clubs that have shown interest in the Tigers’ righty, reports Jon Morosi of MLB.com (Twitter link).
It stands to reason Tampa Bay and Houston are just two of a number of teams monitoring the market for the Detroit hurler. Lorenzen is having a strong season, working to a 3.49 ERA through 17 starts. He tossed seven scoreless innings to earn a win over the Royals this afternoon and hasn’t allowed a run in any of his past three appearances.
Lorenzen began the season on the injured list after straining his groin in Spring Training. Since returning in the middle of April, he’s been a quality starter for Detroit. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of his 17 outings. While his 19.1% strikeout rate is a couple points below league average, he has kept his walks to a modest 6.5% clip. Lorenzen has negligible platoon splits and mixes four pitches with regularity.
While it’s not the most overpowering profile, the first-time All-Star looks a solid mid-rotation arm for contenders. Tampa Bay and Houston have both made clear they’re surveying the rotation market. The Rays have limited depth behind the front four of Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow, Zach Eflin and rookie Taj Bradley. They’ve lost Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs for the season and been without southpaw Josh Fleming for an extended stretch.
Tampa Bay has been tied to a number of rental starters. Lance Lynn, Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty and Marcus Stroman (the latter of whom has a $21MM player option for next season) are all reportedly on Tampa Bay’s radar. The Rays seem to be casting a wide net as they look to solidify their final rotation spot in their battle for the AL East title.
It’s a similar story in Houston. Luis Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery, while Lance McCullers Jr. will miss the whole season after recurring forearm issues. José Urquidy has been out since the end of April with shoulder discomfort, though he’s on a rehab stint and expected back soon.
As with the Rays, the Astros have a quality top of the rotation. Framber Valdez headlines a group that also includes Cristian Javier and rookie Hunter Brown. Javier has scuffled of late, which the team has attributed to some fatigue, while Brown is already at 99 1/3 innings after tossing 130 frames last year between the regular season and playoffs. J.P. France and Ronel Blanco have held down the last two spots. Houston general manager Dana Brown has publicly discussed his desire for another arm. The Astros have also been tied to Stroman.
Lorenzen could fit on virtually any contender. He’s playing this season on an $8.5MM salary. Around $2.79MM will remain to be paid out from the deadline onward. Lorenzen tacked on an extra $250K in incentives by passing the 100-inning mark today and would earn a matching amount at 125, 150, 175, 195 and 205 frames.
If he stays healthy, he’s likely to at least get to the 150-175 inning range. Still, the tab for an acquiring team would only be around $3MM. That’s a reasonable figure for mid-rotation production for the stretch run and into the playoffs.
While that all makes Lorenzen a sensible trade target, it’s not a foregone conclusion Detroit sells. Despite being eight games under .500 with a -77 run differential, the Tigers are only five games back of the division-leading Twins in the AL Central.
It’s tough to see this Detroit club making a playoff push — only Oakland and Kansas City have scored fewer runs on the season — but the bleakness of the division leaves the door slightly ajar. President of baseball operations Scott Harris implied last week the team could play well enough to avoid a deadline sell-off, although they could strike a middle ground by dealing Lorenzen while holding onto players who are controllable beyond 2023.
I’m just happy stuff is happening.
Hopefully Cincinnati too.
Tigers are just getting a full team, missing Greene and Carpenter was really tough as they are the teams best hitters. Unless Tigers are picking up a really good prospect, it seems like the fans deserve a chance to see a potential playoff run. Skubal and Manning are back, along with Brieske and Turnbull soon, pitching is the best in the division.
“Potential playoff run”…In any other division, the Tigers would’ve been out of it months ago. There’s very little we’ve seen on the field, that suggests the Tigers are capable of getting hot and going on a deep playoff run. They should sell, acquire value and get ready for next year, just like the St. Louis Cardinals.
I think I speak for most Tiger fans when I say we don’t care about “deep” playoff runs, we just want relevant, competitive baseball in Detroit.
Keep this squad together and see what they can do. Who cares if ERod will opt out at the end of the year. Neither he nor Lorenzen will bring back anything that will move the needle forward on our projected future growth.
“Bring back anything that will move the needle forward”…You have at least two pitchers to market and teams are Uber desperate for pitching; I’m not quite sure how you come to the conclusion that you cannot get anything that helps in the future for these two. They are both above average and pitching is still the most valuable commodity in MLB.
Easy for you to say, MLBfan. Tiger fans have been suffering for 9 years since getting swept by the Orioles in the first round despite a rotation of Verlander, Scherzer, Price, Anibal Sanchez, and Porcello. We’ll take a shot at the playoff instead of a team’s #20 prospect who might become a utility guy.
And they will suffer longer should the FO squander an asset such as Lorenzen in a sellers market.
Speak for yourself, I think anyone who thinks this is a playoff club doesn’t know baseball! Trade off Lorenzen, Rodriguez, Baez (if anyone is that desperate), and anyone else who brings a great return. I’d trade Foley and Lange if the return was incredible too, I’d trade anyone if price is right.
I think Meadows is a non tender going forward, what a shame, can’t depend on him so time to move on
Trade him and tell him he has a home in 24! Let him play in playoffs, then re-sign him this winter
Austin is a FA at the end of the season.
He has one more arb year.
Great return, yes. But note I said I’d rather take a shot at the playoffs than get a #20 prospect in a trade.
Once you get to playoffs, the hottest team wins. If Tigers get blown away with an offer, then make a trade. Don’t give up the guys just for the hell of it tho
Any “potential playoff run” is only by default as someone has to win AL Central. Even if Tigers weree buyers at deadline they ll likely come up short of Twins or Guardians. And even if stars aligned they’d b bounced almost immediately. They re best suited stating the course and rebuilding the team properly. Getting trounced in one playoff series and prolonging the bleeding is simply bot worth it.
St.Louis won the World Series over the Tigers after finishing the regular season two games over .500. Anything can happen if they get in. To this point, they have been missing many players, but are finally healthy. They need a bat still, but they have pitching. I don’t expect them to get far if they make the playoffs, but this city has waited long enough.
I think they should trade from their pitching assets to get someone like Justin Foscue who can come in now and add to the offence. He is the type of player Harris is looking for, blocked in the majors and could move the needle on offence for us. If we get more offence then, and only then could I see us having a sliver of hope for the playoffs. Make trades but trades focused on now.
Lorenzen’s price is officially skyrocketing with each start.
Cash it in, Tigers. Maybe Mize comes back next yr and Tork continues to ascend. Next yr could be a different story.
That’s what I’m hoping for. Get the pitchers healthy maybe bring up Malloy with Carpenter, Greene, Tork, maybe get Meadows on the field. Add a veteran or 2 and they could b a very interesting team. Jeopardizing that now cus they happen to b in a horrible division just seems extremely short sighted.
How is adding one bat, possibly a rental, jeopardizing the future. No one is talking about adding Ohtani.
Back in 2006 they jumped at a shot to contend, but then u could sense it was a special season. This season is nothing like that and there really isn’t anything special about this iteration of their roster.
Very few people thought the Tigers were going to contend in 2006. The narrative was just like today. “They suck, they’ve always sucked, this is just a fluke “. By end of May the fluke theory was out the door and everyone started getting on the bandwagon. Big difference is that team started strong and didn’t fade until August. And the AL Central was easily the best division in the AL.
Andy Pages would work fine. The Tigers no longer need prospects that’ll take 3+ years to develop, certainly not for any player that’s not a rental.
If it’s Astros can we get Gordon and Perez
I’d like that lotto ticket in Kenni Gomez and Gordon.
The ‘stros continue to fleece us!
Lorenzen dominated the Royals today throwing seven shutout innings. I couldn’t help but think after Hinch took him out, what a heck of a farewell performance in Detroit as I think a contender will grab him by his next scheduled start. He has over 20 straight scoreless inning streak going currently. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by his performance as a Tiger, but facts have to be faced, the Tigers are not remotely likely to make the postseason. they might stay in the race until the deadline but they will be sellers of at least Rodriguez and Lorenzen…Alex Lange probably won’t get them much if they try to trade him as he’s been a mess lately…I’d imagine Jason Foley would be their better bullpen piece to leave. He was closer in today’s game, with rookie Tyler Holton, who’s quietly having a fantastic season out of the pen, as setup this afternoon. I’m sure the Tigers will shop Jose Cisnero as well, as also he’s having a decent under the radar 2023. I think that they’ll only trade one of those relievers and hang on to the rest.
Also don’t forget, Casey Mize might be back late season to get a start or two or wait until next season. Spencer Turnbull should be going on a rehab assignment soon as well. Plus, Reese Olson has shown he can start at the big league level. The Tigers have plenty of young arms, that now finally should be healthy after the disastrous 2022-23 rash of major injuries.
If we trade him can we at least get to see him bat first?
Hey Houston the Mets have Scherzer for you , Carrasco for Tampa and Quintana and Marte or Canha for the Yanks lol
What is his contract status? Last year of the deal?
Maybe the Tigers schould trade Rodriguez, Lorenzen and Cisnero to a team. What a compliment to anyone’s pitching staff. Take a contenderand make them a legit World Series team
But what would you have to give up Houston or TB?
What if the Tigers trade Rodriguez Lorenzen and Cisnero? That would help any pitching staff.
How about it Houston orTB or anyone else? What would the return be?
Maybe the Tigers should offer Lorenzen an extension. Fetters has helped his career and Lorenzen has bounced around. He might want to stay in one place.
Funny that it’s two of teams who ripped off Avila the most (Paredes trade and JV trades for reference) who are interested.
Harris isn’t perfect, but I trust him not to make boneheaded moves like Avila did.
JV had to waive his no trade and picked his destination. Avila was unable to shop him. The Meadows trade obviously didn’t work out, but I do not recall you posting the future injuries that would occur. Detroit fans were optimistic when that trade happened. Hind sight is 20/20.
A half competent GM would have passed on Houston’s offer.
TB knew what they were unloading when they pawned Meadows on to us. Behavioral health does not show up on a medical report.
I was so stoked when we got Meadows lol
Don’t be surprised if we only ship Cisnero. I’m not sure Scott Harris or AJ Hinch are interested in seeing much more of Faedo and Wentz. How many innings are they going to let Skubal pitch down the stretch? The Tigers need the innings out of Eduardo and Lorenzen. Turnbull needs multiple rehab outings and Mize is still only throwing bullpens.
The Astros need a number 1 or 2 starter not an end of rotation arm of a converted reliever. Good pitcher, good season but let’s be realistic. Where the Astros sit in rank, along with injuries and the better than expected play, the team needs major difference makers to make it through the playoffs: Scherzer, Stroman, Soto, ???
Snell?
Disagree. Stros have a Cy Young candidate in Valdez. Javier and Brown had a rough patch lately but looked better their last start. France looks great and Bielak has been sold. Urquidy should be back in 2 weeks. What we need is another vet like Lorenzen or E Rodriguez to allow Bielak to be the long man out of the pen. Blanco also provides depth.
I wish I was as optimistic as you. I just don’t see pitchers rebounding as the season progresses and I don’t see young inexperienced overachievers being reliable for a deep playoff run. Urquidy was almost disposable this time last year so I don’t see him coming back from a long layoff to be more than meh. I’d hate for the Astros to take on Rodriguez’s contract. Again, love your optimism and hope this turns into a miracle team like what the Rangers have mysteriously become but still think they need major upgrades
E-Rod is signed at $14MM per season. That’s hardly excessive. Its likely he’ll opt out because the market will pay more. If he stays, its not an overpay.
Erod has been a Cy Young candidate this year, albeit early on.
Erod has had a great season do far. How does he not fit in with the other pitchers you mention?
Because EROD went AWOL last year. Don’t need that on this team.
Matt Manning is Detroit’s best pitcher so the franchise is in great hands with him. Trading E-rod or Lorenzen should yield a great return, and if not, they don’t have to trade them. Teams looking to buy better offer someone good in return. Detroit’s payroll drops so much at the end of the year, it’s laughable. With so many injured young pitchers coming back next season they are truly in the drivers seat this deadline.
They really have a lot of starting pitchers, but need that ace like ERod. In addition they have proved they can develop pitchers, so don’t give up on guys like Wentz. He needed a reset and while everyone was hurt couldn’t get it and they had to stick with him. There is potential for an end of the rotation lefty there still. If they trade from this list to upgrade the offense, they can. They could renegotiate with ERod or use the extra money to find another ace in the offseason. Harris churns the roster, he doesn’t seem to get too attached to players, a lot like the Rays have done. Will be fun to see what happens over the next several days.
currently and going into 2024:
ERod
Lorenzon
Manning
Skubal
Olson
Turnbull
Mize
Faedo (seems better for pen like Brieske)
Wentz
Madden
Flores
probably missing someone on this list
Toronto is not mentioned in the article == and they are always said to “have interest” on everyone — so that means the Jays are getting Lorenzen.
I am giving Harris some trust. He knows it’s been a terrible drought for Det. I believe if the return is strong for either ERod or Lorenzen, Harris will make the deal. If middling prospects are offered, he won’t
Totally on board with that.
The ONLY way I would trade players like Lorenzen, ERod, Lange, etc is if we are getting prospects back that actually have a chance at big league success. It has been great watching this team overachieve all year, especially with the injuries we have had in our starting rotation. But if a team desperate for a SP offers an overpay, I think Scott Harris will jump at it. I’m just thankful that Al Avila isn’t calling the shots this year!
Reese Olson didn’t look like much when the Tigers traded Daniel Norris to the Brewers. Olson was High A caliber pitcher when he came to Detroit. I would think Lorenzen and ERod would garner you a better prospect than Norris.
Avila made some bad moves, but the Norris for Olson was not one of them.
Lorenzen to LAD for M Busch. It makes TOO much sense! Both teams can thank me later.
No way the Dodgers would give up their #2 prospect in Busch. I’d take him for sure, but more likely Lorenzen would get you back a AA level player
The Tigers need to hold onto Lorenzen and Rodriguez. History has shown that a majority of ‘prospects’ received by the Tigers, in trades for proven talent, turn out badly.. Offer both an extension of their contracts now and build around those two starters.
Harris’ has a good history of trading so far. Malloy cane back for Jimenez and Vierling has played well as part of the return for Soto (Maton and Sands are not having good years and their value is TBD). Avila is gone so hopefully Harris keeps up the good work with more smart trades.
Rah rah
…go…..team!
Lange, Paredes , candelario and rogers? Never good to generalize
From FanSided.com. “The Tigers’ rebuild began with a big sell off during the 2017 season, one year before the Orioles did the same thing. That year, they traded away Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Justin Wilson, and Alex Avila. The best player they got back is…Jeimer Candelario. Out of all those trades, they got back a grand total of zero All-Star appearances, and only a few contributors to boot. The most notable prospect they got back is Isaac Paredes, and he is now playing for the Rays.”
And it turns out they got nothing for Paredes in return. That is why Avila is out of a job. He and his team did a terrible job with most trades.
Astros already have a couple of lorenzens no thanks
Tigers should only move Lorenzen if they get at least 1 top young position player or prospect back who can hit and field and who can help them win now or in ’24.
Otherwise, Lorenzen could be a good candidate for a contract extension to stabilize the rotation for ’24 , 25, ’26.
LHSP Eduardo Rodriguez is drawing a lot of interest from teams shopping for a Starter.
The return on Rodriguez would be much higher even with his option to opt out.
Don’t trade to the Astros or Rays. Both those Front Offices have screwed us recently with Franklin Perez and Austin Meadows. Charge them double for Lorenzen.
Same can be said with Arizona. That JD trade was probably the worst of all the trades.
Not a Dawel Lugo fan, I take it? Lol…
I’m a Tigers fan, and I’d like to see them trade Rodriguez, Lorenzon, Cisnero and Shreeve. Will it hurt them a bit this year? Probably, yes. But if Harris is smart, he should be able to improve the team’s future quite a bit for the next several years. If he gets it right, the Tigers could be a real threat as early as next year.
They have the pitching right now and just need to tweak it a bit in the offseason (maybe trade Lorenzen but then resign him and add a bullpen signing). They just need more hitters to add to the core they have. I think they can get someone like Justin Foscue at the deadline who can help now and in the future and then fill in the blanks with callups (Malloy?, Keith?, Meadows?)and offseason trades or signings.
Ok look why would Detroit trade him if they’re still in the race makes no sense
They have maybe a 1 in 50 chance of winning their division. And even if they did, they wouldn’t get far in the playoffs. Better to get ready for next season (and yes, I do expect them to have a winning record next year).
There are some rumors out there that they are trying to renegotiate with ERod to keep him. They do have a surplus of pitching, but need that ace. I don’t see Harris giving anything away. He will look to make the organization better. They seem to have pitching and possibly young outfielders to trade if they go either route (buy or sell). Or they could just standpat unless they get something they can’t refuse. I think they are closer to winning than what us fans want to allow ourselves to believe, because we have been down for awhile and have a bad taste in our mouth from the Avila days. Also, so sad about Austin Meadows. What a shame indeed.
That’s perfect actually.
That means Baltimore and Texas better listen us when we offer, they will be “blocking” their competitors.
Package guys together and ONLY accept a TOP PROSPECT.
IF Lorenz or Rodriguez like really like it here, they should be more.than willing to re-signing AFTER getting a bat to help score some runs for them.
MY GOD, look at the W-L record with thier awesome performances. They want hitters as bad as any Tiger fan.
Heston or nothing. Owen’s or nothing. Dalton and Reyes or nothing……
Beam me up, Scotty!
I made spelling and grammatical changes…..dang Chinese spell check…..changed it back
Definitely makes sense to listen on both, but especially on Lorenzen. As much as Detroit fans want relevance in a postseason push, and Harris realizes that, they should realize they are close and should try to use the deadline to create some more value before 2024. Would love to keep E-Rod around to anchor a young, injury-prone rotation for the next few seasons. But the Lorenzen trade could very well lead to finding the type of high A player that Harris found in Henry-Malloy, or a controllable reliever who can contribute next season.