Michael Lorenzen is a former Phillies player we'll be glad is gone in 2024
Pitcher Michael Lorenzen was acquired by the Phillies at the Trade Deadline last season to help bolster the rotation down the stretch. The Phillies had to give up promising prospect Hao-Yu Lee to obtain his services as Lorenzen was having an All-Star season with the Detroit Tigers at the time, posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings pitched.
The trade seemed to pay dividends right away, as Lorenzen won his first start as a Phillie and followed that up by pitching a no-hitter in his second start.
Unfortunately, that turned out to be the highlight of his tenure with the Phillies, as he struggled for the rest of the season, so much so that he was relegated to bullpen duties near the end of the year. He finished the regular season with the Phillies with a decent 4-2 record but with a gaudy 5.51 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, along with giving up 29 earned runs, including nine home runs, 20 walks and 28 strikeouts in just 47 1/3 innings. As a result of his ineffectiveness, he saw minimal action during the postseason during the Phillies’ playoff run.
After being let go to free agency at the end of the season, Lorenzen has yet to sign with a team this offseason, showing perhaps the Phillies made the right decision not to retain him. With his track record showing that he sports a lifetime 4.11 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, along with just 602 strikeouts in 724 innings, current rotation pieces Taijuan Walker, Ranger Suárez, and Cristopher Sánchez would all be ahead of Lorenzen on the depth chart. Lorenzen would be just insurance pitching depth at best if he remained with the ballclub.
As a pitcher focusing more on finesse delivery than potent strikeout ability, it would be hard for him to thrive in the heavy-hitting NL East, as he would get eaten alive. As a result, the Phillies won’t be hurt too much for now or in the future by the fact that he has moved on from the team, especially since he has been projected to land a two-year, $22 million deal by MLB Trade Rumors.