Could Philadelphia Phillies Consider Reunion with All-Star Starter?

With Spring Training exhibition games about to get underway on Feb. 24, the Philadelphia Phillies are already picturing big things for themselves this year.

They've talked about using the disappointing collapse in the playoffs as fuel instead of dwelling on what could have been.

This mentality has everyone, including their owner, fired up for the season and the potential of bringing home a World Series title.

The Phillies' front office would go a long way in helping themselves achieve this goal by adding another player to this roster before the start of the upcoming year.

Following the signing of Whit Merrifield, Philadelphia is already over the second level of the luxury tax threshold. They might throw all financial caution to the wind and go after another high-profile free agent.

Jordan Montgomery seems to be the likely candidate after being linked to the Phillies all offseason.

However, they might view a reunion with their former starting pitcher as a much more conducive option.

After earning his first All-Star selection with the Detroit Tigers to start the year, Michael Lorenzen was acquired at the trade deadline and was spectacular in his first two starts, throwing a no-hitter in his home debut.

Unfortunately, his production crumbled in the latter part of the season and he was moved into the bullpen.

Lorenzen wants to be a starting pitcher and Philadelphia likely can't offer him that to begin the year, but the MLB season is long and things change based on injuries, fatigue and poor performance.

It's interesting that the 32-year-old hasn't drawn much notable interest throughout free agency besides some rumors.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic thinks that should change.

"I don’t know the levels of interest Pham and Lorenzen have drawn, don’t know their financial expectations, don’t know if they had opportunities to sign early but chose to wait for better deals. All I know is, like a number of other free agents, they are qualified major leaguers. And they should be in camps somewhere."

He also compared the right-hander to Sean Manaea, who is the same age and is coming off a season where he produced an ERA of 4.44 ERA across 117 2/3 innings.

The New York Mets gave him a two-year, $28 million deal this winter.

Perhaps Lorenzen, who had an ERA of 4.18 across 153 innings pitched, sees what the lefty got and is waiting for something similar or more lucrative.

If that's the case the Phillies likely aren't interested.

But, if their former starter is looking for an opportunity to pitch in 2024 with a contending team, they should seriously consider making this move.