Tigers Acquire Hao-Yu Lee In Trade With Phillies For Righthander Michael Lorenzen
Image credit: Michael Lorenzen (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Phillies on Tuesday made a move to strengthen their starting rotation depth, acquiring righthander Michael Lorenzen from the Tigers in exchange for second baseman Hao-Yu Lee.
Lee ranked as the Phillies No. 8 prospect in Baseball America’s July 2023 Top 30 Prospects update.
PHILLIES ACQUIRE
Michael Lorenzen, RHP
Age: 31
Lorenzen primarily worked as a reliever until the 2022 season, when he made 18 starts with the Angels. He parlayed a solid showing in 2022 into a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Tigers this past offseason and emerged as the team’s best starter in 2023, posting a 5-7, 3.58 mark in 105.2 innings and earning his first all-star selection. Lorenzen, who has primarily relied on his mid-90s fastball, mid-80s slider and mid-80s changeup this season, could be used in a variety of roles for a Phillies squad that is in the thick of the playoff race.
TIGERS ACQUIRE
Hao-Yu Lee, 2B
Age: 20
Lee, who signed with the Phillies out of Taiwan in 2021, broke out during the 2022 season and was named the Low-A Florida State League’s best batting prospect despite missing time with a broken hand. The 20-year-old has dealt with injuries this season as well, but has still posted a .283/.372/.401 slash line in 64 games with High-A Jersey Shore. Lee is a bat-first prospect with strong bat-to-ball skills and above-average barrel skills. It’s a power-over-hit profile, but he has surprising pop out of his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame. Although he’s spent time at shortstop and third base, Lee profiles best as a second baseman long term, with solid-average value defensively.
