New general manager Matt Klentak has made his first offical trade as a member of the Phillies front office. According to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury, the Phillies were in talks with Arizona to acquire 28-year-old right hander, Jeremy Hellickson. Now, the deal is official, with minor leaguer Sam McWilliams heading to Arizona in the swap.
Phillies are working on trade to acquire RHP Jeremy Hellickson from Az, according to sources
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) November 14, 2015
#Dbacks will receive Sam McWilliams 20-year-old RHP from the #Phillies in exchange for Jeremy Hellickson.
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) November 14, 2015
Selected by the Rays in the 4th round of the 2005 draft, Hellickson was dealt to Arizona last offseason on this date in exchange for two minor leaguers. In 2015, he went 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA in 27 starts for the Diamondbacks. In 2014, his ERA was just ten points lower at 4.52 and in 2013, it was over five, so Hellickson hasn't had a ton off success recently. In 2011 though, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award after posting a record of 13-10 to go along with an ERA of 2.95.
He could very well be an inning eating starting pitcher for the Phillies rotation following the departures of Aaron Harang, Chad Billingsley and Jerome Williams. Hellickson has never pitched against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, but he did hit Maikel Franco with the pitch that broke his wrist this season.
Heading to the Diamondbacks is 6-foot-7, 20-year-old right-hander Sam McWilliams. Drafted in the eighth round of the 2014 draft, McWilliams has gone 2-5 with a 4.19 ERA in two seasons, spanning 16 games, with the Gulf Coast League Phillies.
