Are the Texas Rangers buyers or sellers?
After acquiring a right-handed bat in catcher Carson Kelly via a trade with the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, the Rangers made another move ahead of Tuesday's MLB Trade Deadline... but this time they traded away a piece in right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen.
Texas sent Lorenzen to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league left-hander Walter Pennington on Monday morning after Lorenzen couldn't make it out of the first inning in his start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. To his credit, Lorenzen picked up the rest of the pitching staff by throwing four innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's game after Jon Gray was injured while warming up for his start.
Lorenzen, who will be a free agent after this season, had a strong start to the season but has struggled of late.
Lorenzen compiled a 2.86 ERA in his first 11 starts this season but posted a 5.97 ERA in his last seven starts, according to Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News.
Lorenzen, 32, had a 3.81 ERA across 101 2/3 innings of work with the Rangers.
Texas dealing Lorenzen may not indicate the club will go into full fire-selling mode as they have some arms nearing returns from the injured list in Tyler Mahle, Cody Bradford and Jacob deGrom.