Phillies trade rumors: scouting the Marlins for possible Hellickson trade

It’s understandable that, after his scintillating eight-inning, one-earned run performance against them last week at Citizens Bank Park, the Miami Marlins would be interested in Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson.

Hellickson has been everything the Phils could have hoped for since he was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks last winter, going 7-7 with a 3.84 ERA and a 4.21 FIP in 20 starts.

In 119 2/3 innings, he has struck out 7.97 batters per nine innings and walked just 2.03, and is having his finest season since he was the Rookie of the Year for Tampa back in 2011.

He’s an actual buy-low, sell-high veteran pitcher that has actually worked out, unlike last year’s Chad Billingsley and Aaron Harang.

And now, it appears as if the two teams are getting closer on a deal that would send Hellickson to the Fish.

Typically, GCL players are kids in their late teens and early 20s. Mickey Moniak, the number-one overall pick in this year’s draft, and 18-year-old Jailyn Ortiz, both play in the Phils’ GCL league.

So any prospect coming back to the Phillies would likely be a lottery ticket that is likely still three or four years away from the Majors.

CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury reported last week that the Baltimore Orioles were interested in the 29-year-old right-hander, with a scout in attendance for Wednesday’s gem against the Marlins.

The Phils would be foolish to let Hellickson get another game on the mound in a Phillies uniform, and I expect to see him dealt in the next day or two.