Tyler Trumbauer
The Phillies’ top-of-the-rotation pitcher, Jeremy Hellickson, is set to return for the 2017 season after accepting the club’s $17.2 million qualifying offer.
jeremy hellickson accepted the $17.2M qualifying offer
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 14, 2016
The Phillies extended Hellickson the offer earlier this month.
Bringing back Hellickson, who is represented by Scott Boras, really bolsters a starting rotation which may look quite different than it did on Opening Day 2016. With Aaron Nola and Vince Velasquez as a sure-fire two and three, the Phillies’ rotation has the chance to shine next season.
UPDATE: The Phillies reportedly weren’t expecting Hellickson to accept the offer.
phillies dont seem ok with hellickson's 17.2M call. comes down to this: they need innings, have money
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 14, 2016
Heyman’s right. It’s a one-year deal and $17 million isn’t going to kill the Phillies’ chances – however small they are – at the playoffs. No harm, no foul. Unless Klentak really wanted that draft pick.
What’s also interesting is Hellickson refusing to sign a four-year, $50 million deal, which is what CSN’s Jim Salisbury reported would be the market value for him.
Hellickson’s case is a close call. He had a strong season for the Phillies in 2016 and could look to return, build on that season and go on the free-agent market next winter. Or he could try to capitalize on a weak free-agent market this winter and get the multi-year deal that he seeks. The buzz around the general managers meetings last week in Scottsdale, Arizona, was that Hellickson could get a deal in the neighborhood of four years, $50 million.
UPDATE 2: It sounds like teams didn’t want to give up a draft pick just for signing Hellickson, which made his decision to accept the Phillies’ offer easier.
Hellickson said he was leaning toward declining qualifying offer, but teams told Scott Boras they were reluctant to give up draft pick
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) November 14, 2016