Philadelphia Phillies: Jeremy Hellickson Would “Love to Re-Sign”
The Philadelphia Phillies are one game away from the 2016 coming to a close. Now it is time for the team to look towards improving their team in the offseason. One of their most consistent pitchers has said he would love to stay in Philadelphia next season.
Jeremy Hellickson has been as consistent as any other Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher this year. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Hellickson “would love” to return to the Phillies next season. He said that he would not rule out accepting the qualifying offer that the Phillies will put on the table this offseason. The Phillies are currently in a win-win situation. They will either re-sign Hellickson to a $16.7 million qualifying offer or lose him to another team, which would land the team a first-round compensation pick.
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Hellickson, 29, has had a career year with the Phillies this season. Approaching the 200 innings mark, Hellickson currently has a 3.71 ERA in 189 innings pitched in the red pinstripes. Hellickson has never been a huge strike out pitcher as he has only struck out 154 batters in the 189 innings. In 32 starts, he is 12-10.
With a weak pitching class in free agency, Hellickson has the potential to break the bank if he decides to decline the Phillies qualifying offer. Statistically, Hellickson is one of the best starting pitchers on the list. Being only 29 years-old also will help him stand out over the other pitchers on the market this off-season.
The Phillies would not be smart to go out and spend a lot of money this off-season. Signing veteran players during a rebuild can block young players from getting the playing time they need during a rebuild. Instead, they need to hold off from signing any players to a long term deal this off-season. The talent that they have in the farm-system in among the best in all of baseball. By focusing on developing their young talent because their time will come to be contending soon, they just have to be patient.
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The Philadelphia Phillies and Jeremy Hellickson will both win this off-season if he decides to go elsewhere. Philadelphia would get a first-round pick if they extend a qualifying offer and Hellickson will be raking in a nice paycheck. Don’t be surprised if Hellickson accepts the qualifying offer though, and the Phillies shop him again at the trade deadline. This will definitely be a situation to watch as the off-season begins for some teams tomorrow.