Zolecki: I Wouldn’t Just Give Away Jeremy Hellickson

Speculation is that the Phillies will use 2016 Opening Day Starter Jeremy Hellickson as a trade piece to acquire more prospects before the July Trade Deadline.  Hellickson is tied for the MLB lead in Starts in 2016 with six, he has a 2-2 record with a 4.88 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 31.1 innings.  Phillies Beat Writer for MLB.com Todd Zolecki was a guest on The Sports Bash on Friday and gave his perspective on the potential of the Phillies trading Hellickson in July:

"Jeremy Hellickson is pitching really well and you can get someone of quality for him, I wouldn't just give him away just to give him away because I think he has value in terms of stabilizing the rotation and I think he has value in terms of giving those younger pitchers somebody at least to talk to and ask questions. I don't think you just give him away but say their flirting around .500 it's the middle of July and a team calls up the Phillies and says 'Hey we'll give you this hard throwing, Double-A Right Handed Reliever, he touches 98, 99, 100 MPH for Jeremy Hellickson"; if I'm the Phillies I make that trade. And then I call up one of the other young pitchers in Triple-A whether that be Mark Appel, Jake Thompson or Zack Eflin and kinda see what they got and get their feet wet a little bit."

Hear what Zolecki had to say about the Phillies offensive woes, potential of the Phillies trading Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard in July, and the progress of minor league pitching prospects