Matt Klentak makes first big move as Phillies GM

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Not three weeks after the Phillies hired general manager Matt Klentak, the 35-year-old has made his first significant move of the offseason. On Saturday, Klentak traded right-handed pitching prospect Sam McWilliams to the Diamondbacks for right-hander Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson went 9-12 in 27 starts with Arizona in 2015, turning out a 4.62 ERA and 4.16 xFIP over 146 innings. Despite his mediocre numbers, a far cry from the stellar output of his AL Rookie of the Year season in 2011, Hellickson could provide veteran support for a rotation badly in need of restructuring.

The move appears to be low-risk for both teams involved. Sam McWilliams was selected by the Phillies in the eighth round of the 2014 draft and put up a 3.27 ERA through 33 innings with the club’s rookie-level affiliate in 2015. Although Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart remains optimistic about adding another young power arm to his farm system, he admitted that the move was designed to get a decent return for Hellickson, who was due to be non-tendered. The Diamondbacks struck out with their first deal for Hellickson in the 2014 offseason, when they swapped prospect infielder/outfielder duo Andrew Velazquez and Justin Williams for the right-hander.

Heading into 2016, Klentak is leading the Phillies through their second year of a major rebuild. Adding pitching depth will be a major focus, a goal he has already pursued with the acquisitions of veteran relievers Dan Otero and James Russell. Hellickson may be past his prime, but he could bolster the back end of the Phillies rotation -- and, in a best-case scenario, bounce back to provide the team with a solid trading chip at the midseason deadline. With three bounce-back candidates in his pocket, however, Klentak is still one or two pieces away from a working rotation. He may not be done making offseason moves, but he’s already ahead of the game.