Tyler Trumbauer
I have a feeling not many on the Phillies Opening Day roster this season will be on it next season. One player who the Phillies want to make sure is on it come Spring 2017 is Jeremy Hellickson.
According to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Phillies want to lock down the starting pitcher before he hits free agency. Carfado also has a nice section in the column about Ryan Howard and his want to play in 2017. Read the full column here.
Cafardo stated that the Phillies had a desire to keep the right-hander long-term for awhile, which is why they didn’t move him this season. He also says that Hellickson is open to returning.
The veteran was brought in this season to be the number one on a staff that is full of young hurlers. He has fulfilled that role well, compiling at a 12-9 record, a 3.57 ERA, and eating up 181 1/3 innings.
Bringing Hellickson back would be a smart move by general manager Matt Klentak and company as he can do the same for a staff, which looks to be still young and will certainly feature some new faces, such as Jake Thompson, Charlie Morton (who was injured for majority of the season), among others. For Hellickson, I have to think this may not be the best decision as he may be able to get more money on the open market and maybe even a better, more competitive, situation.