Some conversations just stick with you. Late in spring training, I had one with Michael Lorenzen. Actually, it was more like a quick exchange. Lorenzen, sitting in the middle of the Texas Rangers’ clubhouse, told me, quite calmly, that every pitch he would throw this season would be in anger.
The source of Lorenzen’s discontent was his prolonged free agency that extended until March 20, when he agreed with the Rangers on a one-year, $4.5 million contract with $2.5 million in incentives. Lorenzen, who was an All-Star for the Detroit Tigers last season and threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 9 before eventually losing his spot in their rotation, had higher expectations.
Advertisement
In a phone interview Monday, Lorenzen said he was “pretty frustrated, for sure” by the tepid interest he generated on the open market. He recalled telling his agent, Ryan Hamill of CAA, “‘I’m going to call you before every start and you’re going to remind me how this offseason went so I go out there and pitch remembering exactly how I feel at this moment.’”
He has not done that. He also has not thrown every pitch in anger, which would be rather difficult to do. But Lorenzen, 32, said his free-agent experience motivated him, leaving him with a definite chip on his shoulder. He has channeled that energy in a positive fashion, performing better than two more prominent pitchers who also signed late, San Francisco Giants lefty Blake Snell and Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Jordan Montgomery.
After starting the season on the injured list because of a right neck strain, Lorenzen has a 3.05 ERA in 10 starts. He might be due for regression — per Statcast, his expected ERA is 4.65. But he has helped stabilize a Rangers rotation that has been without Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle all season, and Nathan Eovaldi and Jon Gray for part of it.
As much as the offseason pained him, Lorenzen said he drew from his Christian faith, specifically mentioning Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” He also poured himself into his preparation, driven by the memory of how his season with the Phillies ended.
Why is Lorenzen enjoying success when Snell (9.51 ERA, two trips to the IL) and Montgomery (6.58 ERA) are not? Lorenzen was reluctant to answer without knowing how Snell and Montgomery trained, saying they could have worked just as hard as he did without getting the same results.
In 2020, when COVID-19 shut down the sport, Lorenzen bought a portable mound, set it up in an alley in Corona Del Mar, Calif., and threw bullpens. He also continued lifting amid the uncertainty of when the season would begin, if at all. He said he was never more prepared for an Opening Day. And then he posted a 16.88 ERA in his first seven relief appearances with the Reds before rallying to finish at 4.28.
Advertisement
“Baseball is really hard,” Lorenzen said. “(Snell and Montgomery) could be just going through their rough patch of the season. It could get better for them and hopefully it does. But for me, I’ve always said, this is my career, I own my career, I won’t let anyone else tell me what I can and can’t do in this game. I invest in my career.”
To that end, Lorenzen had the Los Angeles Angels grounds crew build major-league quality mounds in his backyard in Orange County. He also asked Kyle Boddy, the founder of Driveline Baseball and now a special advisor with the Boston Red Sox, to construct a motion-capture lab in the yard, which would enable him to receive biomechanical feedback every time he throws a bullpen. Lorenzen is hopeful Boddy can build the lab this offseason. He also is building a gym in his yard, and ultimately expects his “training sanctuary” to cost more than $1 million.
Another shot at free agency awaits Lorenzen. If all goes well, he would figure to sign sooner, and for more money. But he said he again will follow the same path. Trusting in God. Placing faith in Hamill. Working as hard as he can to put himself in the best possible position.
“I’m a human and I’m a sinner and I want to seek revenge,” Lorenzen said. “But my revenge is just going out and competing. I always had that drive to want to get better. But there are different levels, different gears. You have a fourth gear and fifth gear. It definitely kicked me back into fifth gear.”
A gear in which he could channel his anger.
Which way Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays adjusted their roster after the 2022 season with a goal of improving their defense and balancing their lineup. Out went outfielders Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catcher Gabriel Moreno. In came three left-handed hitters, outfielders Kevin Kiermaier and Daulton Varsho and first baseman Brandon Belt.
Advertisement
The plan seemed logical enough, and the Jays won 89 games and a wild card before getting quickly eliminated by the Seattle Mariners in the best-of-three round. But the team’s run production this season has been so disappointing — the sixth-worst in the league entering Tuesday — that club officials are increasingly sacrificing defense for offense.
The promotion of Spencer Horwitz qualified as one such decision. Horwitz in the minors was a first baseman and occasional corner outfielder. He played only 18 games at second, including 11 at Triple A this season, before the Jays summoned him Friday to play that position.
Horwitz at second moves Davis Schneider to left, where he is weaker defensively. Schneider in left moves Varsho to center or right and Kiermaier on occasion to the bench. And to make room for Horwitz, the Jays designated for assignment Cavan Biggio, who played four positions and rated as a plus defender this season. (The Blue Jays traded Biggio to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday morning.)
Which isn’t to say the Jays’ maneuvering is unreasonable. Biggio’s adjusted OPS was 20 percent below league average. Kiermaier’s is 35 percent below. Yet, the Jays remain curiously devoted to Daniel Vogelbach, a pure DH earning $2 million with an adjusted OPS 33 percent below league average.
Twice in early June, the Jays started Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at third base so they could play Justin Turner at first and Vogelbach at DH. If the Jays used that combination along with Horwitz at second and Schneider at left, they effectively would weaken their defense at four positions just to get Vogelbach into the lineup. Biggio, by sheer virtue of his versatility, would seem a better use of a roster spot.
Some of these concerns would be less pronounced if George Springer, Bo Bichette and Turner were performing at their career offensive norms, as opposed to significantly below league average (Turner’s OPS since April 30 is .456, though he has been better of late). Some of the concerns also can be traced to the Jays’ questionable offseason, which included them signing Turner for $13 million and Kiermaier for $10.5 million.
The Jays entered Tuesday 14 games out of first place in the AL East but only three out in the wild-card race. Maybe they can salvage this mess. Or maybe big changes — on and off the field — lie ahead.
Which way Rays
Rival vultures — er, executives — already are circling the Tampa Bay Rays, thinking they can buy low on struggling hitters such as left fielder Randy Arozarena, first baseman Yandy Díaz and second baseman Brandon Lowe.
Lowe ($8.75 million), Arozarena ($8.1 million) and Díaz ($8 million) are the Rays’ three most expensive position players, and through Monday had combined for only 0.5 fWAR (in part because Lowe missed more than six weeks with a right oblique strain).
Advertisement
The Steamer projection system forecasts better things ahead, a combined 4.3 fWAR for the trio over the rest of the season. Which is one reason the Rays, according to sources briefed on their discussions, are not ready to entertain selling. Yet.
Everything went right for the Rays last season during their 20-3 start, and the team finished with 99 wins before getting upset by the Rangers in the wild-card round. This season has been just the opposite. The Rays are in last place in the AL East, and based on their run differential, their 31-35 record actually should be 26-40.
Like many clubs, they will spend the next seven weeks seeking clarity on whether to add or subtract.
“Just trying to pat him on the butt”
Before Saturday’s game against the New York Yankees, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts met behind closed doors with second baseman Gavin Lux. Roberts that night started Miguel Rojas at second against a left-hander, as he normally does. But he wanted to reinforce to Lux that he wasn’t giving up on him.
“It was about, because he’s not getting results, just keep trying to take good at-bats,” Roberts said. “I complimented him on his defense, the focus pitch to pitch. I’m going to keep running him out there. I was just trying to pat him on the butt a little bit.”
Lux’s ability to revive as a hitter, after he missed all of last season following surgery to repair a torn right ACL, is central to the Dodgers’ deadline plans. His defense has been surprisingly good, but his failure to improve offensively might compel the Dodgers to seek another middle infielder. Another option would be to play Rojas at short and slide Mookie Betts to second. Rojas, though, is 35 and might no longer be physically capable of playing short every day.
Lux, 26, told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya he spoke with Roberts about attacking the outer half of the plate, focusing more on mentality than mechanics. Roberts said earlier this season that Lux could not be judged until he had at least 150 at-bats. Lux is at 175, and produced his first three-hit game of the season Sunday night. His expected .244 batting average and .341 slugging percentage entering Tuesday were better than his actual .216 and .560. But that expected slug was still in the bottom 13 percent of the league.
Advertisement
“I think the last like month or so I’ve felt a lot better and obviously the results haven’t shown. Some of that is just baseball being baseball and it is what it is,” Lux said. “But yeah, I just think with more game time, more at-bats, my legs have gotten under me more. I think it’ll continue to be getting better as the season goes on.”
The problem for Lux is that a team hellbent on a World Series title can wait only so long.
What about Willy?
Last month, I wrote about how the Milwaukee Brewers were unlikely to make the same type of deal with shortstop Willy Adames that they did with closer Josh Hader at the 2022 deadline. Well, maybe they should consider trading Adames, given the state of their injury-riddled rotation, the depth in their infield and the willingness of the Dodgers as a potential suitor.
Right-hander Carlos Rodriguez on Tuesday became the 12th pitcher to start a game for the Brewers this season, through only 67 games. That number ties another injury-depleted club, the Braves, for the most in the majors. Five teams — the Los Angeles Angels, Mariners, Phillies, Minnesota Twins and Yankees — have used only six starters.
The Brewers, leading the NL Central by 6 1/2 games, would risk unsettling their clubhouse again if they moved Adames, an everyday player and team leader who entered Tuesday with 10 homers and an adjusted OPS 14 percent above league average. On the other hand, Adames is a potential free agent — Hader had a year-plus remaining — and the Brewers could replace him from within, keeping Brice Turang at second while playing Joey Ortiz at short and some combination of Oliver Dunn and Andruw Monasterio at third.
Sure, the team’s offense would suffer. Its morale would, too. But how exactly are the Brewers going to get through the season with their rotation in such a dubious state? Brandon Woodruff and Wade Miley already are out for the year. Robert Gasser might soon join them. Both external free-agent additions, Jakob Junis ($7 million) and Joe Ross ($1.75 million), are on the injured list as well.
The Brewers’ first option should be to trade for a pitcher such as Miami Marlins left-hander Jesús Luzardo or Chicago White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet. Such a move, however, likely would require them to part with a prospect package beyond their comfort level. Adames, with his club control dwindling, would not bring a young starting pitcher such as the Dodgers’ Landon Knack on his own. But as well as the Brewers have played, everything needs to be on the table, no?
Yankees’ Volpe still on the rise
Anthony Volpe last season became the first Yankees rookie to win a Gold Glove since the inception of the awards in 1957. At 22 years, 156 days, he was also the youngest shortstop to earn the honor. Yet to hear Yankees manager Aaron Boone tell it, he’s still getting better.
“If it’s possible, he’s maybe gone to another level defensively,” Boone said Saturday in his meeting with the Fox broadcasters. “I can’t believe how good he is at shortstop. He doesn’t have overwhelming tools. But his arm, because of his accuracy, is at least average. It’s never an issue because of his pre-pitch routine, his jumps, his range, the balls he gets to.”
The advanced metrics, as they often do, offer a mixed portrayal. Volpe fared much better last season in Defensive Runs Saved (tied for second) than Outs Above Average (24th). Entering Tuesday, he was tied for ninth in DRS this season and tied for fifth in OAA.
Regardless, the Yankees see improvement.
“He’s gotten better because he works his tail off at it,” infield coach Travis Chapman said. “He looks for every small little detail that might be an advantage. He’s willing to apply it. He’s willing to take risks.
“A lot of people talk about five tools. I’d say there’s six, with the intelligence, the baseball IQ. He excels at that. And he’s willing to put time in, listen and learn to anybody he thinks can help make him better.”
Advertisement
Boone recalled that entering last season, some in the industry thought Volpe eventually might need to move to second base. It’s doubtful anyone thinks that anymore.
“He’s as good as it gets out there,” Boone said.
Nats facing decisions
Which do you believe if you’re the Washington Nationals? The NL wild-card standings that say you are only one game out of a postseason berth? Or the FanGraphs odds that on Tuesday assessed your chances of making the playoffs at only 1.4 percent?
Manager Dave Martinez and the Nationals players almost certainly would say the former. So might Mike Rizzo, the Nationals’ intensely competitive general manager. The way the Nats’ rotation is rolling, a longshot bid for a playoff spot does not seem terribly unrealistic.
The Nats entered Tuesday ranked 15th in the majors with a 4.07 rotation ERA, but take away Patrick Corbin and that number drops to 3.54. Even if Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker regress, the eventual returns of Josiah Gray and Trevor Williams from the injured list should keep the rotation strong.
Rizzo might be tempted to buy, but whether ownership would allow him to increase payroll is an open question, especially when the franchise is pointing long-term. If anything, the Nats perhaps should be more inclined to sell, and not just potential free agents such as outfielder Jesse Winker and reliever Dylan Floro, whose value is limited.
Three players with an additional year of control — outfielder Lane Thomas and relievers Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey — would command greater returns, particularly in a seller’s market. The Nationals are deep in young outfielders. Relievers’ performances often are volatile. And a top-heavy farm system would benefit from additional depth.
Around the horn
• The Orioles are intently exploring the bullpen market and still could pursue a right-handed hitting outfielder. In addition, general manager Mike Elias is telling clubs he will weigh the addition of a starting pitcher perhaps up to the deadline, according to sources briefed on his discussions.
Elias likely would move on a starter only if he needed one for health and/or performance reasons. A front three of Corbin Burnes, Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez in the postseason would be formidable. But the Orioles already have lost two starters, lefty John Means and righty Tyler Wells, to season-ending elbow surgeries. Righty Dean Kremer currently is out with a right triceps strain as well.
Advertisement
• The Padres’ offense suddenly looks potent, entering Tuesday ranked fifth in the majors in on-base percentage and ninth in runs per game. This, despite Manny Machado hitting at a league-average level and Xander Bogaerts missing time with a fractured right shoulder.
While the team is pursuing the White Sox’s Crochet and other starters, a shutdown right-handed reliever is the top priority for general manager A.J. Preller, according to sources briefed on his discussions. In theory, a Crochet-Michael Kopech package could make sense. But additional relievers will become available as the deadline nears, potentially lowering the prices.
• And finally…
Paul Skenes, All-Star. Who says no?
(Top photo of Michael Lorenzen: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
