The Phillies have agreed to a trade that will send right-hander Jeremy Hellickson and cash considerations to the Orioles in exchange for outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, Double-A left-hander Garrett Cleavinger and international bonus money, the teams announced on Friday night.
The move is a surprising one from an Orioles club that is currently seven games out of first place in the AL East and six games back from a Wild Card spot in the American League. Most talk on the Orioles recently has been about the possibility of trading short-term pieces such as Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Seth Smith.
MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal tweets that that may still be the case, which makes the move all the more head-scratching on the surface. However, Rosenthal suggests that Baltimore simply feels it needs rotation additions to get through the season, and GM Dan Duquette indeed indicates that he simply needed to add some innings to a starting staff that has entered Friday with the fourth-fewest innings and second-highest ERA in baseball.
“Jeremy Hellickson is a solid, dependable, veteran Major League starter who knows how to win in the American League,” Duquette told reporters (Twitter links via PressBoxOnline.com’s Rich Dubroff). “He should provide some quality innings for the Orioles.”
Hellickson, 30, accepted a qualifying offer from the Phillies this past offseason, locking him in at a $17.2MM salary for the 2017 season. He’s still owed about $6.1MM of that sum through the end of the year, though the Phillies have reportedly been willing to include cash in a deal to help enhance their return.
Hellickson struggled greatly to open the season, limping to a 4.91 ERA with a league-worst 3.97 K/9 rate through his first 14 starts. Since June 20, however, he’s averaged 7.9 K/8 against just 1.8 BB/9 en route to a 4.33 ERA that is supported by more favorable xFIP (3.81) and SIERA (3.99) marks. Even if he maintains the uptick in strikeouts and to complement his typical brand of excellent control, Hellickson won’t be confused for a front-of-the-rotation arm. But, he’s been a durable mid- or back-of-the-rotation starter for much of his career. Outside of a 2014 season that was cut short by an elbow injury, Hellickson has averaged 30 starts per season and is on pace to equal or exceed last year’s career-best mark of 32 starts.
That may well be all the Orioles are focused on, as Dylan Bundy is the only Orioles starter with an ERA even south of 5.00 (currently 4.53), and Bundy has struggled mightily over the past month and a half. Each of Kevin Gausman, Wade Miley, Chris Tillman and Ubaldo Jimenez has an ERA of 5.69 or higher, and the Orioles have little in the way of upper-level depth that inspires confidence as a starting option. Alec Asher has been hit hard in the Majors, while Gabriel Ynoa has a 6.54 ERA in Triple-A. Righties Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright have also struggled in multiple MLB looks over the past couple of seasons.
Kim’s inclusion in the trade may be nothing more than a financial mechanism. The 29-year-old has been scarcely used in 2017 and is in the second season of a two-year, $7MM contract. Once a star in the Korea Baseball Organization, Kim had a nice MLB rookie season at the plate in 2016 when he hit .302/.382/.420 in 346 plate appearances. This year, though, he’s struggled to a .232/.305/.288 slash while earning $4.2MM.
Kim can temporarily step into the spot once held by the now-also-traded Howie Kendrick, but the Phils may not give him all that long a leash as their young outfielders inch increasingly closer to Major League readiness. Kim can become a free agent at season’s end anyhow, so he’s a short-term addition even in the seemingly unlikely event that the Phils hang onto him for the remainder of the year.
Cleavinger, 23, is currently ranked 27th in a weak Orioles’ farm system at MLB.com, so he probably won’t rank nearly as high in a deeper Phillies farm system. His fastball reaches 96 at times but sits 89-92, per MLB.com’s free scouting report, and he pairs that with an average curveball. Cleavinger’s control has been a problem in each of the past two seasons, though, and he’s limped to a 6.28 ERA with 9.8 K/9, 5.4 BB/9 and a 46.8 percent ground-ball rate in 38 1/3 innings at Double-A this year.
With all that said, this trade may be largely about the Phillies using their considerable payroll capacity and lack of near-term commitments to take advantage of the Orioles’ willingness to eschew spending on the international market. Adding Cleavinger gives them a fairly advanced MLB player, though one with a fairly limited ceiling. But, the new collective bargaining agreement has placed a hard cap on international spending, giving teams starting bonus pool ranging from $4.75MM to $5.75MM and allowing teams to acquire up to 75 percent of their original pool.
The Phillies, as a team that isn’t the Competitive Balance lottery, began with a $4.75MM pool but can add up to an extra $3.56MM. While the exact amount acquired from the O’s isn’t yet known, GM Matt Klentak tells reporters that he’s already acquired north of $1MM to add to his bonus pool via the trade market (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki).
Zolecki reported that a trade was in the works after Hellickson was scratched, and Rosenthal first said that the Orioles were in the mix. FanRag’s Jon Heyman reported the agreement (on Twitter). Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com reported details on the return (all Twitter links). Heyman tweeted that Kim was in the deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
i don’t know how to feel about this, who did we give up?
Pro ably not much with his price and all.
Nothing good
Should probably feel pretty crappy because this makes 0 sense. He is a free agent at seasons end and the O’s aren’t in contention. So I don’t see how this makes any sense at all.
they just need rotation help, and they need it badly, so they got a guy who can help them down the stretch by giving them innings, and will limit the bullpen innings when the orioles trade off Bullpen arms in the coming days
Interesting theory re limiting the bullpen innings… But why not just calm up Triple A arms and have them eat the innings plus gain the experience?
Because their clock would start running unnecessarily early.
*call
There’s not an O’s starter with an ERA below 5.00
Dylan Bundy
They gave up there tenth overall prospect
29th as indicated in article
Cleavinger isn’t much of a prospect, he’s a deception guy, but the deceptive delivery doesn’t allow him to have adequate control. He’s on lists because of a strong year in low A ball as a 22yo reliever. His stuff and control just doesn’t play against age appropriate competition.
^ This
*their
Get Verlander next.
I’d are wayyyyyy too cheap for Verlander
Like I said… o’s rotation is brutal.. can’t get much worse… but hellickson pitching to contact at Camden could be a disaster
Yeah it has car wreck written all over it.
Trade machado because you aren’t gonna get anything next year at the deadline and he isn’t coming back, because he is gonna be in the Bronx!
Hopefully not he’s not worth it.
Phillies park is probably best hitters park in NL besides Coors and he fared well there. I’d say it’s scarier just to be pitching in AL East vs NL West but he has experience there too. Not saying I think it’s a smart trade for them or that he will do well, but he has pitched in an extreme hitters park and had success
Was also ROY for the Rays – so he’s had success in the AL East too.
Don’t forget Arizona’s park. It has been better than Coors this year. Cincinnati’s park is also better for hitters than Philly.
Az
ummmmmmm ok
What a weird trade. Any idea the return yet?
Maybe the guy who was responsible for the trade is the return. That would make the most sense.
+1
Well this makes no sense.
There was probably no market for helly and the O’s figured he is basically free anyways. Why not
If they gave up a guy with even a 1% chance if helping the Phillies in 2018 and beyond then that’s why not. They need to be adding long-term assets. Not subtracting them!
Still trying to understand why?
If you figure it out can you let us know? Every year they feel the need to trade for a completely marginal player that will have no impact – Miley, Parra, etc. Why take on any salary and give up a young player, even if they don’t seem like much? Stupid.
They’re getting ready to trade O’Day and Britton, bringing on a guy who will eat innings, not tax the bullpen arms they’ve chosen to keep, and in the end they’ll save $$ on the transaction. Pretty shrewd.
Doubtful anyone is trading for O’Day with how much his contract is unless the O’s eat some of it. And that’s not likely to happen.
Yeah marginal players, but also players like Andrew Miller and Francisco Rodriguez.
Might be trolling but hearing Siscos in the deal.
Minor league potcher, position player and into slot money.
Just what’s being posted around. Probably not true.
if sisco is in this deal, delete this franchise
Probably just stupid comments. I highly doubt Hellickson gets even Sisco by himself.
Pretty irresponsible post–check yo self!!
As an Orioles fan, this seems very stupid to me
See my comment above.
Albeit just a theory.
Yeah makes sense. You’re probably right.
Why on earth are the O’s buying?
They’re not. They are just getting innings so they don’t have to call up guys from the minors. He won’t help in the standings but it’s a solid business move.
It’s a terrible move. Did the O’s really not have anyone in AAA they could have called up to pitch bad-to-mediocre innings in the Majors? Just ridiculous!
You don’t know how this works do you West coast? That’s the whole point. They don’t want to waste time table on A triple a call up that won’t help.
Hellickson won’t help either you nitwit! The Orioles aren’t contending this year and he’s gone after this year. AND the Orioles gave up someone with long-term control to get Hellickson!
Let me break it down to you. Because you’re obviously not very smart. They DO NOT want to bring up AAA guys because they don’t want to start their clock. They also didn’t gijve up anybody worth anything. It shows bc the international slot was the center piece. They gave up junk that would never help them so they can have innings eaten this year. It’s that simple. Got it now? I doubt it…
Then don’t bring up the AAA guys then. No one is holding a gun to your head. Isn’t there an Anthony Telemauco, Amaury Young or some such you can grab off the scrap heap to start meaningless dog day games (actually the O’s already seem to have cornered the market on journeyman pitchers in the rotation). Also, that seems like a lot of angst including strategic use of the ALL CAPS for added emphasis, for such an inconsequential move. Stress easily?
All caps was to ensure you got the point. Nothing stressful about it.
Edin u are right.
Thewestcoast answer is NO
I’ll play the pessimist and say he gets shelled in the AL… yes prior experience but can’t see it having a positive effect for the O’s
Only fitting that a marginal pitcher gets dealt to a team with a virtually nonexistent farm system.
Phils got some crab cakes and a few of Boog’s BBQ sandwiches?
And some kimchi?
Nom nom. That’s a “Hell” of a return. Crabbies, boogs and kimchi. Yum!
Duquette probably given the word. Win or else. He wont be part of the future or rebuilding if they dont grab a WC spot. The MASN dispute may tie Angelos hands in terms of selling now.
Also, the pieces they have to sell are devalued due to injury or off years and its a buyers market to boot
Dan is an idiot.
“Our team sucks. Let’s buy a player who won’t help, and continue to suck.”
Wonder with Tulo getting hurt tonight O’s could send Tejada and get something from Jays. Maybe balance out this crappy deal with Kim or Smith going to Philly for Hellickson.
Best of luck Jeremy! You’re a great competitor. I’ll miss having the Hellhound on the mound every 5th day
Print the playoff tickets! Not really
Wow,
Orioles fans- I’m so sorry. This is what we dealt with from 2012-2014. Hopefully Angelos decides to pull out and reinvest in video stores.
Yes.. roster spots opening up for the phils farm
This makes no sense for the Orioles…just sell already
O’s will probably give up a nothing kind of prospect. A no name. So it doesn’t really matter if it makes sense- if it is a minor prospect then no harm is done. At least he will be a better option than ubaldo
Answer this question who is more likely to help the Orioles in 2018 and beyond: Jeremy Hellickson or the aforementioned middle or prospect?
Hellickson if they resign him.
That logic doesn’t work because trading for him now is not a prerequisite to signing him in the offseason.
None of the above
I can’t image Hellickson at that launching pad facing a DH. Woof! I know the rotation is garbage, but honestly I don’t see Hellickson being any better than the chumps they already had taking the mound at OPACY: Wade Miley, Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman (this year anyways). Granted, Hellickson is better than Ubaldo, but almost anyone in the majors would be better than Ubaldo so that’s not saying much.
It shouldn’t be that hard, he did start his career in the AL east.
Dumb deal for the O’s, need to sell off pieces not buy. You’re out of contention.
they didn’t trade for him with the purpose of Contending, just simply giving them innings down the stretch, and hopefully help that awful rotation
That’s stupid. Did they not have anyone in AAA that could have done that for them? You don’t trade pieces with long-term value (even marginal long-term value) for rentals when you aren’t contending!
Ryan, it just happened. So obviously, you’re wrong. The main get wasn’t a player, it was the international dollars that Orioles don’t use, anyway.
They could have traded those international dollars for something else.
Why does everyone think they are qualified and capable of judging this? “This is dumb.” “Stupid move.” They picked up Hellickson for really nothing just to make it through the season! If they are trading their bullpen pieces, they need SOMEONE to pitch. They have 5 starters right now who won’t get you out of the 5th most of the time. If they don’t have someone out there to just throw the ball and give the bullpen a break, then you are going to end up overusing the arms you have left. This is the perfect move for Baltimore because it allows them to trade bullpen pieces. I know DD has only been doing this his whole life and has only taken the O’s to the playoffs 3 of the last 5 years, but I’m sure all you keyboard warriors out there who have played fantasy baseball for a few years are perfectly qualified to judge the moves he makes. Keep typing those useless meaningless comments guys!
Duquette gave two rationalizations for this trade.
1) Hellickson is an innings-eater. He’s averaging less than six innings per start this season.
)Hellickson is a “proven winner” in the AL East, a division in which he hasn’t pitched in five years. Hellickson’s career W-L record in the AL East is 40-36. His team’s record in games he’s started in the AL East is 57-58. So there’s that.
Hellickson? really? What is up with the Orioles and their mediocre pitching all the time?
They are just copying how KC won a WS.
Really the orioles need to unload some of there money now get some prospects and let’s lock up manny, schoop, and Mancini for the long term keep Davis and let’s see what we can get for the guys with some heavy contracts over a short period of time
Hellickson has a lower ERA then Tillman, Gausman, and Jimenez. If he didn’t cost anything of real value, then what’s the harm?
In the NL East. Not exactly a pitchers nightmare facing those lineups.
NL East lineups aren’t terrible. Lot of All Stars and quality hitters (Harper, Zimmerman, Murphy, Cespedes, Bruce, Stanton, Bour, Yelich)
Well he has a lower ERA at the moment.
And it’s more of the fact that an awful team like the Orioles should be selling, not buying rentals.
The harm is they gave up something of long term value for a guy who is just going to leave after this season.
Orioles gave up next to nothing so not a bad move for them. Phillies take a flier on a LHP for a player who would walk in 2 months and more importantly open up a spot in the rotation for another youngster.
Edit: seeing now that international slot money is involved and a major leaguer, granted I can’t see it being someone of any real value
Orioles also got nothing. Hellickson has no value to them!
Yeah I don’t really see the purpose for Baltimore other than to get a pitcher that can hopefully eat some innings and spare the bullpen/young arms some innings down the road. I guess the Phils did it mainly for the international money? Beats me.
Not sure if subtracting Hell boy gets them closer or further away from their goal of tanking for Beer. Should be an interesting case study. At least Rick Hahn is clear about the White Sox stated goal of chasing down the Phils for worst.
Garret Cleavinger is the player going to the Phil’s. Not a big deal. Worth a try. A mid tier prospect. Was number 26 in the O’s system after 2015. 6.28 ERA for Bowie in 37 innings this year. If the O’s have one thing it’s a ton of lefties in the system (Lee, Hart, Fry, Hart, Blier). Probably LOOGY at best.
update: depending on the inclusion of a player from the major league roster I might disagree with this now. Unless it’s Flareghty or Giovetella.
Its prob gonna be Ubaldo, Tillman or Miley, for money reasons
He doesn’t look at impressive IMO. Worth a flier for the O’s
*that
(In reference to Cleavinger)
Jon Heyman is reporting the MLB player is Kim. stupid deal, but I guess the O’s didn’t really use him at all this year and see no use for him in the next two months or future. Wasted Kim IMO. Getting rid of Ubaldo would’ve been the best scenario but probably not happening.
As an Orioles fan I just cannot begin to convey my confusion through a comment
I’ll help clarify, the orioles didn’t trade for Him with the hope that he will help them contend, Hellickson will give them much needed innings and will supply the orioles with much needed rotation help
I get what you’re saying, as a person who watches this team day in and day out I just don’t agree
He won’t supply the Orioles with any rotation help. He’ll leave and sign with someone else after this year and what he does this year on a non-contending Orioles team is largely irrelevant.
Guess we should just end the season now since you apparently know how its all going to play out.
I’m imagining this time last year what the Phils were offered when Hellickson had a much better season. I know they expected him to not sign the QO so the phils mistake last year was compounded by Hellickson taking the one year QO leaving them with no supplemental pick and a big one year contract for a 4th-5th starter type on a contender. With all that said, if the orioles needed a guy to just eat innings at the major league level why not just sign some re-tread or trade a box of baseballs to a team who has a mediocre major league arm on their AAA team (aka a cheaper re-tread)
Lol because apparently the stuff I’m saying isn’t blatantly obvious to anyone with half a brain (see: not you)
international pool money and a major league player also?!! Someone spiked the crab cakes
Prepare for the innings eater justification DD.
Not a fan of this deal. Also not a fan of guys that struggle in the national league coming over to the American league type pitch. Then I heard he’s a few agent at the end of the season. Pointless.
Just heard Kim is involved in the deal.
Official by Roch Kubato. Kim, Cleavenger and cash for Hellickson.
Hyun soo Kim is the major leaguer going to Philly
2 teams going nowhere trading spare parts who are free agents at the end of the season. Maybe trading Kim gives them room on the roster for Santander and either ubaldo or miles will get Dad’s
It’s probably a money thing. The Phillies pay for both Hellickson and Kim and save the Orioles money. Kim’s role on the Phillies would be pinch hitting and starting once a week and that’s only if they trade Daniel Nava.
This is a dumb move for Baltimore, they are out of it, what’s the point of this? If anything they should be selling.
Why does everyone think they are qualified and capable of judging this? “This is dumb.” “Stupid move.” They picked up Hellickson for really nothing just to make it through the season! If they are trading their bullpen pieces, they need SOMEONE to pitch. They have 5 starters right now who won’t get you out of the 5th most of the time. If they don’t have someone out there to just throw the ball and give the bullpen a break, then you are going to end up overusing the arms you have left. This is the perfect move for Baltimore because it allows them to trade bullpen pieces. I know DD has only been doing this his whole life and has only taken the O’s to the playoffs 3 of the last 5 years, but I’m sure that all you keyboard warriors out there who have played fantasy baseball for the past few years are perfectly qualified to judge the moves he makes. Keep typing those meaningless, uninformed criticisms guys!
So now they picked up someone who instead of the 5th, will make it to the 6th, every fifth day. Whoop.. Dee.. Doo.
That’s also a lot of characters for an irrelevant move by an increasingly irrelevant ballclub. Didn’t realize there was that much passion in the sleepy state of Hagerstown
Or it could be that they may be cooking a big trade in the background … and Hellickson may be a part of the package …. who knows ….
What’s the point of this? They trying to make sure the Blue Jay’s don’t catch them for fourth in the division?
I am thinking they will flip him in a deal or another starter in a deal and keep him in the rotation….though he is a FA at the end of the season so they may flip him to get better return that they gave up….
Due to Mancini surging, Kim really has not had much game time this year, so I think it was very unlucky for him given the fact he hit .302 last year OBP .382, and an ops of .801 To this point in time he’s had a little over a third of the AB’s he had last year. I don’t see how you can expect the guy to hit well or play well when he’s had no consistent game time. I have to say it’s pretty rough treatment.
Great job Phillies stricking two great deals in one hour
The Phillies got a good prospect for trading Hellickson, and taking on 2 contracts
What good prospect did they get? Clevenger is the number 29 prospect in a weak system.
I really wish we didn’t give up Kim. They better re sign him. I was at the Astros game when the O’s lost 8-7 but they scored 5 in an inning to come back from 8-2. Guess who starred that rally? Kim. He is one of the only guys on our roster who can actually manufacture a run, instead of a HR or K guy. Well maybe that is exaggerating, but he is a great bench bat. When I went to the game there was a group of Korean fans in front of us, and they were loving it when Kim pinch hit and hit a double. I doubt they or any other fans will show the same enthusiasm over Hellickson.
Well, nelson, there is no shortage of seats at Ctizen’s Bank Park if they want to take a drive north on 95.
He can only help wish they got rid of Miley Tillman ubaldo and no need sign not one of them all washed up
Anyone who said this is a bad move because the O’s should sell is not a real O’s fan.
I’m intrigued/confused/perplexed about this deal. So they picked Hellickson up to be just a rotation arm in a dissapointing season? Any O’s fan want to fill me in on this deal or are you as dumbfounded as me?
I’m asking the same question. The argument that they are trying to eat innings is BS – they have plenty of those kinds of arms in Norfolk. This is a sad attempt to try to show fans they are trying to win.
Only an idiot makes that deal.
The O’s get a washed up old RHP in exchange for their best contact hitter and bench warmer, a young promising LHP and cash for international prospects. (Which the Orioles currently have none!)
Way to go Orioles.
Maybe you can still pull off that trade for Len Sakata and Sydney Pontoon
This is why the Orioles are perpetual losers.
I’m imagining this time last year what the Phils were offered when Hellickson had a much better season. I know they expected him to not sign the QO so the phils mistake last year was compounded by Hellickson taking the one year QO leaving them with no supplemental pick and a big one year contract for a 4th-5th starter type on a contender. With all that said, if the orioles needed a guy to just eat innings at the major league level why not just sign some re-tread or trade a box of baseballs to a team who has a mediocre major league arm on their AAA team (aka a cheaper re-tread)
This deal reminds me of that great saying by that famous philsopher/beat poet, Nancy Kerrigan. “Why, why, why????”
Dan Duquette strikes again! What an idiot!