Tyler Trumbauer
At the end of the Phillies season, it seemed nearly certain that the Phillies would send a qualifying offer to free agent Jeremy Hellickson, who was the one constant in the Phillies rotation this past season. The initial hope was for Hellickson to reject it, but the Phillies have enough money that it wouldn’t break the bank if Hellickson did accept it.
According to Jon Heyman, Hellickson and his agent Scott Boras, may reject the offer if the Phillies decide to extend it.
Some still think the Phillies could extend the $17.2-million qualifying offer to Jeremy Hellickson, with the hope he wouldn’t take it but the knowledge they can afford it if he does. “As crazy as it seems,” one rival exec says, “I think (agent Scott Boras) turns it down in this market.” The market is so thin Hellickson is easily among the top few starters available.
Hellickson had a solid season and was everything the Phillies wanted and more. The Phillies certainly need him back on the mound in 2017 as their young starters are still a while away from contributing to the major league club.
And, although Heyman’s report could be true [he’s been very good in his career], seeing it is coming from a “rival exec” may mean that it is someone who would be in the market for Hellickson and is just trying to stir the pot.
Whatever the case, it’ll be interesting to see if the Phillies decide they can or can’t afford to lose Hellickson for 2017.