Starting pitching is the one thing holding the Baltimore Orioles back from making a deep run in the 2023 MLB playoffs, and it seems they are trying to fix that problem by targeting an All-Star pitcher from an American League rival.
After years of cultivating their farm system and making it one of the best in baseball, at the expense of their big league roster, the Baltimore Orioles’ young stars have turned their squad into a legitimate force not just in the AL, but the entire league.
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They trail only the Atlanta Braves for the best record in the league and have somehow been able to overcome the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East after their division rival was the hottest team in baseball for much of the first few months. With the team on the brink of doing something special this fall, the organization reportedly knows they have a unique opportunity in front of them and want to make the most of it.
Heading into the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline, Baltimore has the type of minor league chips to make a blockbuster deal and was even reportedly a contender for MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani before he was taken off the trade block. However, multiple reports indicate the organization is unwilling to give up some of its best prospects for an expensive rental.
Baltimore Orioles have Detroit Tigers All-Star in their trade crosshairs
That is why the team is looking for upgrades to their underwhelming starting staff that are affordable yet impactful. On Thursday, MLB Network league insider Jon Morosi reported on the player the Baltimore Orioles may be zeroing in on to bolster their rotation.
“Orioles remain focused on pitching upgrades ahead of the deadline, sources say. Tigers All-Star Michael Lorenzen is one starter in whom they have interest,” Morosi claimed in a Tweet.
Lorenzen is having a career year in his ninth season in MLB. For much of his time in the league, he served as a reliever, but over the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, and now with the Detroit Tigers, he has transitioned back to being a starter and has evolved into a front-of-the-rotation talent.
In 2023, he has posted a 3.58 ERA and a career-best 1.098 WHIP as he is set to blow past his previous top innings pitched and strikeout numbers. He is also set to be a free agent this winter after signing a one-year deal worth just over $8 million with Detroit before the season.
With the Baltimore Orioles hitting and backing him up, he could make a major impact for the team down the stretch.