Jeremy Hellickson was masterful tonight in what could potentially be his final start as a member of the Phillies, as he held the Marlins to a run on five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in eight innings. Hellickson is widely expected to be traded prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline, and ESPN’s Jayson Stark writes that the Phillies are looking for a return similar to the one they got last summer in trading closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals (right-handed pitching prospect Nick Pivetta). That is to say: they’re looking for a pitcher with a big arm (or multiple pitchers) not necessarily a top-tier prospect.
The Marlins themselves have had long-standing interest in Hellickson, Stark notes, and they got a first-hand look at the best he has to offer tonight. He adds that the Phillies will use the remaining money on Hellickson’s contract ($2.83MM through season’s end) as somewhat of a bargaining chip in talks, suggesting that they’ll be willing to eat some of the salary in order to enhance the prospect return from interested parties (if necessary). Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, meanwhile, tweets that Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill was present at tonight’s game in Philadelphia and saw Hellickson dominate his club first-hand.
CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury reports that the Orioles, too, were present to scout Hellickson’s outing. More importantly from Salisbury, he writes that the Orioles and Phillies have already had discussions pertaining to Hellickson. However, one pitching-hungry team that is not in the market for Hellickson, according to Stark (Twitter link), is the Tigers. And, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Matt Gelb adds that the Pirates and Giants had scouts present at the Hellickson outing, though they’ve been present at a good deal of Phillies games lately to monitor the team’s available relievers.
Hellickson, 29, lowered his earned run average to 3.84 with tonight’s gem, and he’s now sporting a strong 8.0 K/9 against an similarly strong 2.0 BB/9 with a 42.1 percent ground-ball rate in 119 2/3 innings of work this year. He’s slated to become a free agent at season’s end, so the trade will benefit him in the sense that it removes the possibility of a being saddled with a qualifying offer.
Kinda curious. Why wouldn’t the Tigers be interested in Hellickson? He has got to be an improvement over Pelfrey.
Why would they eat salary? Hellickson isn’t making a huge amount at all and he’s free agent after this season.
As a big market team selling in trade season, they are willing to pay or absorb extra money for a better talent return on the trade. For example(although a much much larger deal than I anticipate for Hellickson), the Cole Hamels deal last year: at least one of Jake Thompson, Jorge Alfaro, or Nick Williams(heck, Eickhoff as well) is still Rangers property had Philadelphia not been willing to take on Matt Harrison’s contract. Also, a team like the Pirates or Indians may not want or be able to take on money mid-season, but would be willing to part with more talent to make the team better without payroll rising. $2.85M is less the to Phillies than most teams, they should take advantage of it.
The Phillies paid all of the remaining salary for Papelbon and Revere last year and even paid most of Chase Utley’s salary. Utley was traded to the Dodgers and they have more money than anyone.
Lux tax for the Dodgers.
What sounds better, trading a young guy for a rental to try and make the playoffs this year and paying that guy. Or trading that young guy for the rental and not paying the rental (at least in full).
Marlins have a pretty good farm so I’m sure they won’t dread sending over whoever it would cost
The Marlins actually have one of the worst farm systems in baseball.
Now having said that, it’s not like Hellickson will require an elite prospect anyway so the Marlins could easily make a deal for him. But as a whole, their farm system is very weak at the moment.
if I’m the marlins I’m giving them Nicolino take it or leave it in no way shape or form I’m I giving them urena urena has electric stuff hellickson to me is not wotth that much especially for a rental
Marlins have one of the weakest farms in baseball
They will be done paying after the season which would allow them to get a much better prospect for the long term
Red Sox might take Hellickson for right price
Hellickson and Neris to the Giants for Lucius fox?