Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies: Hellickson Likely to Deny Qualifying Offer, Per MLB Executive

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Jeremy Hellickson, the Phillies lone free agent worth a qualifying offer will likely deny it in favor of free agency, says one MLB executive.

The Phillies have six free agents heading into the offseason, but only one is expected to receive a qualifying offer: Jeremy Hellickson. This offseason, a qualifying offer will be $17.2 million according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

The team has more than enough cap room to sign Hellickson to the offer should he take it, but right now it is up in the air whether or not he will. In the same press conference after his last start, Hellickson said he “would love to be back here next year” but also said he would also love to get a bigger contract on the open market, per Jim Salisbury of CSN.

One rival executive weighed on the situation with Hellickson here in Philadelphia. When Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball asked the executive, he said, “As crazy as it seems, I think (agent Scott Boras) turns it down in this market.” Heyman noted the thinness of the starting pitching free-agency market puts Hellickson “among the top few starters available.”

Hellickson did everything the team could have hoped for this season. The righty logged 189 innings with his lowest WHIP – 1.15 – since his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2011. Hellickson’s 3.2 fWAR ranked 21st among all qualified MLB pitchers and led all Phillies pitchers.

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There is value in retaining Hellickson for 2017 if he accepts the qualifying offer. The young Phils rotation needs at least one veteran for stability and to help guide the staff. In addition, if Hellickson can match his production this year next season – he was worth $25.6 million according to Fangraphs – he will still produce a surplus value of $8.4 million.

However, if Hellickson signs somewhere else, the Phils would get a top-40 draft pick back in return. This would give them two early picks in the draft to boost their farm system.

There are several low-cost, veteran starting pitchers on the free agent market that could replace Hellickson in the rotation. The team could also opt to put an extra young pitcher in the rotation like Ben Lively or Jake Thompson as they look to figure out who could play a role on a future successful team.

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