So much for a lack of trade options.
Phillies General Manager Matt Klentak Saturday dealt pitching prospect Sam McWilliams to the Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson. Going 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA, 121 strikeouts and 43 walks last season with Arizona, the right-hander tentatively slots into the Phillies’ 2016 rotation as the No. 2 or 3 starter.
Hellickson is average, at best, and often worse, according to his recent numbers. Twelve of his 27 starts were considered “quality” starts, and only once did he pitch into the eighth inning (against … guess who … the Phillies).