2023 Phillies/MLB Trade Deadline Speculation/Discussion

[Philsmania]

I hope Middleton is taking notes on how Cohen operates, opening the checkbook to acquire bigtime MLB players and then paying off the teams he trades them to in exchange for top prospects in return.

[zambonir]

Well, I hope they aren't deadline sellers of Zach Wheeler next year. But I don't think it will escape his notice in general.

[zambonir]

And, there's the first surprise

Tigers are close to trading Michael Lorenzen to the Phillies.

Infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee is part of the proposed return heading to Detroit. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi ( @jonmorosi ) August 1, 2023

[BaseballCat]

Seems like a good haul. I was going to see Clifford tomorrow when Asheville plays Greensboro. Oh well

[bkox]

Michael Lorenzen

710 career OPS.. Could be the bat we were looking for.. Oh wait..

[zambonir]

34 games in the OF!

[BaseballCat]

Not Lee please…

[zambonir]

I wonder if this might be the sole big move, i.e. strengthening the rotation strengthens the bullpen and lets them continue winning games without a lot of runs. But probably not.

Also wonder if Sanchez is in the deal (or another deal) or if they're content to make him depth or a long man.

[zambonir]

That's the deal, just Lee

Can confirm that the Michael Lorenzen deal is done, pending medicals. Full deal is Lorenzen for prospect Hao-Yu Lee. @jonmorosi was first.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) August 1, 2023

[andyb]

34 games in the OF!

It is my fault as I joked about that last week when everyone wanted Ohtani.

[BaseballCat]

I like Lee, but if only one than I guess ok

[Callison]

Pennant Fever!

But the best news here is that it should move one of the bottom 2 relievers elsewhere. Encouraging that he has a connection with the Phils - maybe there's more to this trade than meets the eye.

[andyb]

I just think outfielder is the greater need so a second deal is coming.

[bkox]

What makes me like this deal a bit more is the relationship between Caleb Cotham and Michael Lorenzen. They know eachother well, and have worked together a lot over their careers.

If anyone is going to get the best out of Lorenzen, it is Caleb Cotham.

— Alex Carr ( @AlexCarrMLB ) August 1, 2023

[bkeich]

Seems like an overpay for Lorenzen, he is quite marginal. Not even sure he is a top 5 reliever for us. I would rather have Lee in a few years

[Patchmk88]

Lee is blocked and according to Wimkleman (or at least I think I read him saying this), his body doesn't have much more projection so he kind of is what he is from a power standpoint.

[phillychuck]

That's Lee for two months of Lorenzen. I think Lorenzen is OK, but I don't know how he fits with the Phillies. Sanchez has been better than him this year. I don't think you throw away top-10 prospects in your system for rental players, but what do I know?

[Patchmk88]

Well he'll probably be a starter for us and has been a good mid rotation arm this year. I think it is a solid trade.

[bkox]

Winkleman's thoughts on twitter

Lee had a good last few months, but this is what I wrote on the midseason list and I think it holds true. https://t.co/TvpmCQqnZf pic.twitter.com/LCbrNfZSvF

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) August 1, 2023

Lee had dropped to 9th on my midseason list. I think I was a bit too high on the hit tool and a bit too low on how it all came together. That said, everyone loves him and he is by all accounts and extremely hard worker. He also has a real fill for getting bat to ball.

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) August 1, 2023

[phillychuck]

I love all our prospects too much...the one negative I'd offer about Lee is his propensity to get seriously injured. He's had three big injuries since being in our system. According to many scouting reports he is a really pure hitter with a sweet swing. Dombrowski continues to play to type--he always has valued mid-level big leaguers over prospects.

And he's only blocked if one is committed to Turner/Stott as the DP combo. Either one could play 3B if Lee forced his way into the big leagues at 2B.