Philadelphia Phillies Pulled Off One of the Best Trades at Deadline
It's been one month since the MLB trade deadline and some teams got it right and some teams not so much.
One only need to look at the Los Angeles Angels to see a team that had the perfectly wrong philosophy at the deadline. One month late they made an unprecedented salary dump that included almost all of their newly acquired players.
One team who did get it right was the Philadelphia Phillies when they acquired starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen.
According to MLB.com, the Phillies trade for Lorenzen was the tenth-best at the deadline.
Here is what contributor Brain Murphy had to say about Philadelphia's trade.
"Lorenzen has scuffled over his past three starts since throwing a no-hitter on Aug. 9, permitting 13 earned runs and five homers in 15 innings.
"But, oh yes, there was that no-hitter. And it was amazing. It was just the second time since 1900 that a pitcher authored a no-no in his first home game with a new franchise. It was also the eighth no-hitter from a pitcher who switched teams at midseason. Even better, Lorenzen got to do it with his family watching from the stands.
"Most of the players on this list have had more productive months than Lorenzen. But few in the entire league have had a more special moment this season."
Yes, the no-hitter was incredible, who does that on their second start with a new club?
And yes, he hasn't been great lately.
However, Lorenzen is already at a career-high in innings pitched and the thought for Lorenzen when he was acquired was to make a start here and there and then be used out of the bullpen.
With Ranger Suarez back from the injured list it appears that would be the best route for the Phillies. Lorenzen can be kept healthy and fresh down the stretch and when the postseason arrives you can let him loose if necessary.
Or keep him in reserve if something happens to one of the first four starters.
Either way, it was another great transaction from president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski at the trade deadline.
