Phillies rumors: ‘Virtual lock’ Jeremy Hellickson gets traded

By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor

After allowing just one run over his last two starts, both of which came against the Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson has lowered his ERA more than 40 points and appears headed for a contending team. 

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, it is nearly certain that Hellickson won't be with the Phillies after the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline: 

It remains uncertain which team Hellickson will be pitching for after the deadline, but it's a virtual lock that it won't be the Phillies. Hellickson has allowed one run over 14 innings in his past two starts — 4-1 and 4-0 victories over the Marlins — and he's pitching his best ball at precisely the right time for Andy MacPhail and Matt Klentak to flip him to a contender.

Crasnick also noted on Twitter that the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles scouted Hellickson Monday. MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reported earlier today that the Orioles were joined by the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates as teams scouting Hellickson. Crasnick's ESPN colleague Jim Bowden noted last week that the Rangers, who he seemed to suggest were casting a rather wide net in the free-agent market, had 'talked' with the Phillies about both Hellickson and closer Jeanmar Gomez. 

Hellickson, 29, was the Phillies Opening Day starter in 2016 after being acquired in an off-season trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his lone season in Philadelphia, Hellickson has made 21 starts, posting a 7-7 record with a 3.65 ERA, 107 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP. The former American League Rookie of the Year can become a free-agent after the 2016 season. 

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