2) RHP Jeremy Hellickson, Philadelphia Phillies
You read that correctly. The Mets acquire a starting pitcher? From the rival Phillies?
Matt Harvey‘s DL stint combined with Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz‘s bone spur concerns mean the Mets could be in the mix to add an arm at the deadline. Logan Verrett has performed admirably as a swingman, but is better served coming out of the bullpen. Zack Wheeler‘s return is cloudy at best, leaving the Mets with rotation concerns.
The 29 year old Hellickson is a free agent after the season, and has pitched to a decent 3.92 ERA in 2016. He’s going to pale in comparison to some of the other arms the Mets have, but would serve as a reliable insurance policy if one of the starters goes down before the month ends.
Hellickson’s career 4.36 FIP won’t be attractive in free agency, and he’ll be looking to improve his stock with free agency looming. Joining a contender could also jumpstart his performance.
The rival Phillies won’t be excited about helping their New York counterparts, and could hold a high price tag for Hellickson’s services. However, the Phils need to cash in on prospects as they continue their rebuild.
