The Reds will place right-hander Michael Lorenzen on the 10-day injured list prior to tomorrow’s game against the Mets, Cincinnati manager David Bell told reporters (including The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans). Lorenzen suffered a right hamstring strain while running the bases as an automatic runner in last night’s 7-4 extra-innings loss to the Brewers.
The severity of the strain isn’t known, though it’s still a terrible break for Lorenzen to again be sidelined after his very first game of the season. Lorenzen suffered a shoulder strain during Spring Training that was slow to heal, and he spent the entire first half of the season on the IL. In his first game back, he flashed his two-way skills by tossing a scoreless inning of relief and then moving to play right field for the next frame (he struck out in his lone plate appearance).
Lorenzen’s injury marks yet another setback for a Reds bullpen that has struggled all season, as Lorenzen’s return was seen as a big upgrade to the relief corps. Cincinnati’s front office was likely going to pursue relievers at the trade deadline even with Lorenzen back and healthy, and the club’s search will only intensify now that the veteran will miss some more time.
In the bigger picture, Lorenzen’s hopes for a strong platform year in advance of free agency have taken another hit. Heading into the season, Lorenzen was aiming to win a job in Cincinnati’s rotation to further enhance his future free agent value by re-establishing himself as a starting pitcher. His bid was put on hold by his shoulder injury, of course, and the Reds planned to use him strictly as a reliever (and part-time outfielder for late-game maneuverability purposes) during the second half. Should Lorenzen’s hamstring problem linger long enough that 2021 becomes something of a lost season for the right-hander, his hopes at landing even a multi-year deal could be in jeopardy, though he’ll certainly still get attention based on his solid track record prior to 2021.
Thoughts and Prayers for A Speedy Recovery
Talk about bad luck. That has to be frustrating
Bell=MORON
Why? The guy is a great athlete. He wanted to be in the field and running the bases. Sh!! Happens
Because now he is on the IL duh. The Reds weakness Is bullpen and now he is out for God knows how long. Bell is also an idiot for not starting Miley this series
so should Bell have known Lorenzen would pull a hamstring? seems unreasonable to just assume.
I wouldn’t ask him to strain real hard after his first appearance of the season. That seems to be wasteful.
an enterprising team (TB?) could get a great deal on this guy in free agency
I think he’ll still be in Cincinnati next year. Probably on a one year deal
i dunno. the versitility could be well valued to the modern club.
What versatility he hits well for a pitcher and can play OF. In the end he’s basically filling a slot of a pinch runner/5th OF. he’d likely be more valuable to a team as a starting pitcher
Universal DH next year would limit his value at the plate. He hits well for a pitcher but that’s all. Not well enough to put in any lineup otherwise.
and if there isn’t a universal DH, which is very possible?
That would be a God send for Tampa.
ML on the IL=SOL
What an athlete wants isn’t how it works. The manager putting a player who’s been injured most of the season on the field unnecessarily is idiotic.
Didn’t he just come off the DL yesterday?
No he came off the IL
Would the reds have any interest in trading for a guy like Jose Cisnero or Gregory Soto to firm up the bullpen? If so, what would be some prospects reds fans see offered back for multi-year control of Detroit’s top two bullpen arms
I’d guess the Reds’ top pitching prospects are off limits (Lodolo, Greene). They have a surplus of 2B/3B types they’d consider: Hinds, Callihan, Johnson, Lopez; plus some other pitchers: Richardson, Roa, Bonin.
David Bell made some head scratching decisions this series. I had a bad feeling when I first saw Wade Miley was not pitching this series. What is the reasoning behind that after he dominated Milwaukee last week? Mahle is still young, and then Gray is coming off an injury.
Putting Lorenzen in the field, and then having him run, after being injured all year. It makes you question the wisdom and intuition of Bell as a Manager.
But he looked like a genius last weekend when they beat Milwaukee three in a row. Kind of a strange team.
Just when you think Bell is learning he does something that makes you scratch your head. Having to use Wade Miley to hit hit with the bases loaded in the 11th tells you everything you need to know.
Is it just me or was it not the best of ideas to have Lorenzen run the bases cold? He’s a solid bullpen arm on a team that really needs bullpen help
Lost year for Lorenzen. He has talent; best for him to get away from Cincy ballpark.
Angel’s would be a nice fit….