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Tampa Bay Rays Looking at All-Star Pitchers as Trade Deadline Approaches

The Tampa Bay Rays, who have fallen out of first place in the American League East, are reportedly looking for big time help in the starting rotation as the trade deadline approaches.

Brady Farkas

Tampa Bay Rays Looking at All-Star Pitchers as Trade Deadline Approaches
Tampa Bay Rays Looking at All-Star Pitchers as Trade Deadline Approaches /
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The Tampa Bay Rays have fallen out of first place in the American League East and are reportedly looking for starting pitching upgrades as the trade deadline approaches.

According to articles on MLBTradeRumors, the Rays are looking at Marcus Stroman (Cubs) and Michael Lorenzen (Tigers) with some degree of seriousness.

After season-ending injuries to Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs, the Rays could certainly use upgrades if they want to make the playoffs and win the first World Series in the organization's history.

As for Stroman, he is 10-7 this season with a 3.09 ERA over 21 starts. A ground ball specialist, he's thrown to a 1.14 WHIP. He's in his 10th season in the majors, but ninth on a roster after sitting out the 2020 pandemic-shortened season.

He has played with the Blue Jays, Mets and Cubs and comes with playoff experience.

The 32-year-old is a lifetime 77-74 pitcher with a 3.57 ERA.

As for Lorenzen, he's spent this year with the Tigers and was named to the All-Star team. 

The 31-year-old California native has made 17 starts this year, tossing 100.2 innings. He's 5-6 with a 3.49 ERA. He's in his ninth year in the big leagues with the Reds, Angels and Tigers.

Lifetime, he's 36-35 with a 4.01 ERA and can likely be had for less than Stroman.

Entering play on Friday, the Rays are 60-40 and 1.0 game back of the Baltimore Orioles.

They'll have a chance to make that game up as the two teams play on Friday night. First pitch is 6:40 p.m. ET.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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