The Orioles are acquiring Jeremy Hellickson from the Phillies, per reports from FanRag’s Jon Heyman. Philadelphia is also sending cash to the Orioles in the deal, as Hellickson is making $17.2 million this season.
The Phillies send Jeremy Hellickson to the Orioles
Prospect Garrett Cleavinger and OF Hyun Soo Kim are heading to Philadelphia in the deal.
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Hellickson was scratched from his anticipated Friday start late in the day, beginning speculation about an impending trade. The Brewers were also rumored to be a trade destination for the righty at various points.
Hellickson came to the Phillies in 2015 from the Diamondbacks, and wasn’t stellar this season with a 4.73 ERA and 1.255 WHIP. However, he made 20 starts and was reliable enough that he can offer a drop of stability to the rest of Baltimore’s rotation - which currently has no starter with an ERA under 4.50.
Orioles prospect Garrett Cleavinger and outfielder Hyun Soo Kim will be going to Philadelphia in return. The pitcher was picked in the 3rd round of the 2015 June Amateur Draft out of Oregon, and Kim is a free agent after this season.
During his time with the AA Bowie Baysox this season, Cleavinger has put up a 6.28 ERA in 38.2 innings pitched. He is Baltimore’s 27th ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
Kim has been with Baltimore for two years, and this season is batting .232 with 10 RBI and a WAR of -0.4.
Baltimore had been seen as sellers during this trade deadline lead up, as they are 7 games back in the division and 6.5 games back from the second wildcard slot. The playoffs are not a reasonable destination this year, but as Ken Rosenthal points out, the team still needed to add depth to their rotation.
Reports say that the team is still attempting to trade Zach Britton and Brad Brach, signaling that they are not all of a sudden going to go on a spree for new players. They still firmly fall in the “sell” column at this time, but rotation depth was needed and has been all season.
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