The Philadelphia Phillies know they aren’t going to make the playoffs this season, so they decided to trade some players that can be useful to other teams for prospects that can help their future. If you want to bet on the Phillies, check out the current sportsbook odds for the season.
After a 10-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday, the Phillies announced that they made two trades. The team traded outfielder Howie Kendrick to the NL East leading Washington Nationals for McKenzie Mills, a minor league pitching prospect.
The Phillies also traded pitcher Jeremy Hellickson to the Baltimore Orioles for Garrett Cleavinger and outfielder Hyun Soo Kim.
According to the details of the trade, the Phillies will receive an international amateur signing bonus and will send cash to the Baltimore Orioles to cover part of the remaining money owed to Hellickson. To cover the Kendrick deal, the Phillies will send $1.59 million to the Nationals to cover part of the $1.78 million due to Kendrick for the rest of the season.
The Phillies will also remain liable for Kendrick’s deferred salary of $5 million.
When asked about the trade on Friday, the 34-year-old Kendrick said it was good news because he is going to a contender and will have a legitimate chance to compete for a World Series title, which is the reason he plays the sport in the first place.
Despite his age, Kendrick is hitting .340 with two homeruns and 16 RBIs this season. He has only played in 39 games this season due to injuries, and missed Friday’s game against the Braves after being hit by a pitch on Wednesday, when the Phillies defeated the Houston Astros 9-0.
Even though the Baltimore Orioles have struggled for most of the season, the team has managed to stay within striking distance of the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. With the Orioles only 4.5 games out of the final Wildcard spot, the trade makes a lot of sense. Especially since the Phillies will pay most of the remaining salary owed Hellickson.
The Phillies have actually been playing well lately, winning five consecutive games and seven of their last 10 games. Their best stretch of the entire season.
Despite their current streak, the team doesn’t have a chance to make the playoffs, so getting rid of aging players with relatively big salaries makes a lot of sense for the team right now.
With Mills, the Phillies are getting a 21-year-old pitcher that can make a difference in a year or two. Mills, who was selected in the 18th round of the 2014 draft, has a 12-2 record with Class A Hagerstown. He also has a 3.01 ERA and made the South Atlantic League All-Star team.
In 20 starts for the Phillies this year, Hellickson was 6-5 with a 4.73 ERA. In his two seasons in Philadelphia, Hellickson was 18-15 in 52 starts.
The fact that Hellickson had a winning record on a team in full rebuild mode like the Phillies, has to be a positive for the Orioles who have a much better roster than the Phillies. If Hellickson can help the Orioles make the playoffs, expect the Orioles to offer him a long-term deal.
