Takeaway Two: Jeremy Hellickson is still a Phillie, and that’s fine.
Hellickson is still wearing red pins for the remainder of the 2016 season. He will not go anywhere in the August waiver period. He has been more than serviceable. When the Phillies acquired him during the winter, the idea was obvious: Flip him for a tangible prospect at the deadline.
However, we all overlooked something that Klentak valued. Hellickson is up for free agency at the end of the season and, with the recent extension the Washington Nationals handed to Stephen Strasburg, will be the best arm on the market. Granted, it is an extremely weak pitching group, Hellickson sits atop it and as long as he does not fall off or get hurt, he will remain there.
Why does that matter you ask? Let me set it up.
The Phillies will extend a qualifying offer to the 29-year-old. Said offer is worth $16.7 million for one season. Hellickson will be taking a major risk with agent Scott Boras and decline the offer. And, in my opinion, he will easily land a deal for at least three years and $45 million (AAV of $15 per season). It gives him stability and nearly the same annual salary.
And it gives the Phillies what Klentak was pushing for at the deadline: a prospect worth turning your head for. When a team takes Hellickson, the Phillies will get a compensation pick that lands between the first and second rounds. So let’s assume they end up being the tenth worst team in baseball, they will end up with three picks in the top 55.
Klentak made the right choice because a player in that arena should end up in the top ten of a system. Maybe Hellickson the player is not worth that in a trade, but Hellickson the contract situation sure is.
Next: Takeaway Three: No one is safe.