Starting Pitchers Who were Traded

How have the starters who were dealt at the deadline performed with their new teams?

There is always a lot of hype around starting pitchers around the trade deadline. They are normally the most coveted assets because every team needs pitching going down the stretch as teams try to make a playoff push. This year, the majority of trades that were made at the deadline involved starting pitchers. Now that we are at the end of the season and the starters have 7-9 games with their new teams, it’s time to evaluate who really was worth trading for back on August 1st.

Justin Verlander

9 GS: 5-3, 3.93 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 6.1 IP/GS

Verlander returned to Houston after only a few months away from the team. There is always a ton of risk betting on a 40 year-old pitcher to make 25+ starts in a season and then dominate in the postseason. Verlander is the type of pitcher I would bet on this October. But I’m not quite sure Verlander is the same pitcher this season compared to the pitcher we saw last season (1.75 ERA) and throughout the playoffs. The Astros acquired Verlander with the idea he dominates this year and if they end up getting a lesser version of Verlander over the next 2 seasons, so be it. But he needs to be good this October for it to be worth it.

Jack Flaherty (#16 & #18 prospect)

8G / 7 GS: 6.68 ERA, 1.65 WHIP

Everyone has been waiting for the 2019 Flaherty (2.75 ERA) or the 2021 Flaherty (3.22 ERA) to show up this season. After a few strong starts in July, Baltimore acquired Flaherty with the hope of him bolstering the staff. The complete opposite of that happened as Flaherty was so bad (6.68 ERA) that he had to be moved to the bullpen. This is one trade that has turned out horribly for Baltimore. 

Michael Lorenzen

8 G / 7 GS: 6.02 ERA, 1.50 WHIP 

Lorenzen looked like an incredible steal for Dombrowski and the Phillies after he dominated in his first start for 8 innings and followed that up with a no-hitter in front of the Philly faithful. But since that no-hitter, Lorenzen has been crushed (6.88 ERA in last 7 games). Lorenzen was taken out of the rotation and in his most recent bullpen outing gave up 4 runs in ⅓ of an inning. When Philly acquired Lorenzen for their 5th ranked prospect, they did not only hope for 2 dominant starts. They expected so much more.

Aaron Civale

9 GS: 5.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP

Civale was having a career year with the Guardians (2.34 ERA) and the Rays decided to acquire a starter with team control while giving up their 4th ranked prospect. Civale has reverted back to his career norm in ERA on the season due to his 5.36 ERA with the Rays. He’s given up more home runs in 43 innings with the Rays than he did in 77 innings with the Guardians. Civale is one of the rare pitchers to go to Tampa and take a big step backwards. A big October would change the outlook on this deal.

Jordan Montgomery 

9 GS: 3.29 ERA, 1.10 WHIP

Montgomery has been nothing but consistent since he was traded away by the Yankees. He was terrific in St. Louis and now he has been terrific in Texas. When you watch Montgomery pitch, he may not blow you away with his stuff but he knows how to pitch. Montgomery is also someone you can count on to take the ball every 5th day as he has made at least 30 starts in each of the last 3 seasons. With the numerous injuries that the rest of the Texas rotation has dealt with, Montgomery has been worth the trade. 

Max Scherzer 

8 GS: 3.20 ERA, 1.12 WHIP

Scherzer was throwing well for Texas in his 8 starts but with Scherzer, there is very little concern when he is on the mound. Keeping Scherzer on the mound is the concern. For the third consecutive season, Scherzer got hurt down the stretch and this time, he is out for the season with a triceps injury. With deGrom and now Scherzer out, it’s hard to make a case for Texas in October.

Lance Lynn

9 GS: 4.67 ERA, 1.41 WHIP

When the Dodgers acquired Lynn along with Joe Kelly, no one expected Lynn to dominate. Lynn didn’t give up 3 runs in any of his first 4 starts with LA. Although he has come back to his norms (4.67 ERA with the Dodgers), Lynn has been a reliable starter and has given LA more good starts than bad. The Dodgers won this trade, especially with how many of the top pitchers have struggled since the Deadline.

Lucas Giolito

6 GS: 6.89 ERA, 10 HR in 32 IP

Giolito was having a down ‘23 season in Chicago but in a surprising move was traded to the Angels to try to make the last playoff push with Ohtani and Trout. The aggressive moves at the deadline backfired and the Angels DFA’d Giolito after 6 starts (6.89 ERA). Giolito was picked up by the Guardians. but he hasn’t been any better in Cleveland (5.64 ERA). 

In Conclusion…

The starting pitching market at this year’s deadline was overhyped and many of the names became busts. There is still time for a few of these names to make an impact in October and make the trade swing in the team’s favor but time is running out. When you have as many bad trades as this year’s deadline produced, it makes you wonder how aggressive teams will be next deadline in trying to acquire an impact starter.