The Arizona Diamondbacks like to make people scratch their heads from time to time. This offseason many believe that if the team were to acquire some pitching, they’d have a legitimate shot at contending not only in the NL West, but possibly even for a World Series championship. So of course, this afternoon they traded away one of their starting pitchers in Jeremy Hellickson, 28, who finished 2015 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.329 WHIP over 146 innings.
With Hellickson set to hit free agency after the 2016 campaign, the move makes some sense for Arizona, especially considering the above league average ERA the right-hander produced last season. With a number of pitching prospects knocking on the door to the Major Leagues, the D-Backs were bound to trade some pitching at some point, and while Hellickson wasn’t going to break the bank through arbitration this winter, his $6.6 million arbitration estimate from MLB Trade Rumors could certainly be used in other ways–say to lure a big-name free agent.
The Phillies sent 2014 8th round pick right-hander Sam McWilliams to the desert for Hellickson. In two seasons in pro ball, McWilliams has spent both of them in the Gulf Coast League, totaling 58 innings and a 4.19 ERA. Here is one scout’s take on the package that McWilliams presents.
Scout's take on Sam McWilliams: 91-93 FB with big CB and slurvy SL. Solid above-avg changeup. Ceiling of No. 3-4 starter. #DBacks #Phillies
— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) November 14, 2015
With McWilliams still a couple of years away at least, the trade is currently all about the Phillies presently. While the team finished with a 63-99 record, worst in baseball, the Phillies are in a winnable division. Last offseason the Miami Marlins went for the crown and finished 20 games below .500. While a lot of that losing could be attributed to Giancarlo Stanton missing time, it just doesn’t seem as though they have enough to legitimately contend in the NL East.
The Atlanta Braves have traded away everyone with name value outside of Freddie Freeman, and the Washington Nationals keep adding payroll and underperforming. With one team, the New York Mets, presumably in the way of a divisional crown, and that team likely to be missing their second-half spark plug in Yoenis Cespedes, the Phillies–yes the Phillies–could have an outside shot at winning the division.
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They have some of the pieces in place with starter Jerad Eickhoff performing better than many expected after being traded from Texas with Aaron Nola joining him in the rotation, a slew of position players that could surprise, and the #5 prospect in baseball in J.P. Crawford could be ready to help with a postseason push much like Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor of the Astros and Indians.
It’s still early in the offseason, but the hot stove is burning and teams will be wheeling and dealing through the holidays.