Why Rockies cut ties with ex-Reds, Phillies All-Star pitcher

The Colorado Rockies have adjusted their starting rotation. 

On Wednesday, the NL West club announced that right-hander TJ Shook was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. 

The 28-year-old replaces a former All-Star starter who struggled at and away from Coors Field. 

Michael Lorenzen was designated for assignment by the Rockies after he posted an ugly 7.08 ERA with 168 hits allowed in 25 starts (115.2 IP). 

Colorado signed Lorenzen to a one-year, $8 million contract last offseason to hopefully help build its rotation. 

Lorenzen fared better on the road (5.61 ERA) than at home (9.12 ERA), but even his statistics away from the extremeley hitter friendly Coors Field environment weren't pretty. 

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The Rockies could have attempted to trade him at the deadline, but there may not have been much interest from contending clubs. 

Lorenzen was an All-Star in 2023, and he threw a no-hitter in August of that year against the Washington Nationals as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds and hit .290 with four home runs in 2018. 

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