MLB trade deadline: Phillies make trade with Detroit Tigers for Michael Lorenzen

On a day revolving around potential contenders looking to get better, the Philadelphia Phillies made a move with under three hours left until the trade deadline. The Phillies had a couple of needs to help this team get better and making a move for starting right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen for their fifth-ranked infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee.

Philadelphia Phillies boost their rotation with Michael Lorenzen

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ starting rotation has been up and down this season and at one point, was using a bullpen day with Andrew Painter going down during spring training. Adding Lorenzen is a big pick up. While Christopher Sanchez has been good, it seems like he was on a short leash in games. Adding Lorenzen gives the Phillies five true starters who are proven.

Lorenzen this season in 18 starts is 5-7. Lorenzen has pitched 105.2 innings with 83 strikeouts and 27 walks. Lorenzen has a 3.58 ERA with 11 home runs given up. Over his last four games, Lorenzen has only given up three earned runs. Hopefully coming to a new team will help Lorenzen continue his stretch of play.

Lorenzen brings an aresenal of seven pitches with him including a fastball, slider, sweeper, curveball, changeup, cutter and a sinker.

Going back to the Detroit Tigers was Hao-Yu Lee, the Phillies fifth-ranked prospect. The Blue Claws infielder can play third, second and shortstop. Over his couple of seasons, the right-handed 20-year-old is batting .283 with an OPS of .773. Lee is still young and can pan out to be a good piece for a Detroit Tigers team that is searching for their identity sitting 11.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.

With Philadelphia having Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm and Trea Turner, Hao-Yu Lee would be hard-pressed to find a roster spot. While Lorenzen is only signed through the rest of this season, it seems like Dombrowski is trying his luck to find a fifth starter once more. This move does allow Christopher Sanchez to return to the bullpen giving Philadelphia another reliable arm.

The Phillies could still have used a few more pieces at the MLB trade deadline. A right-handed power bat and another bullpen arm would have been nice, but this does help bolster their starting rotation.