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MLB Trade Deadline: 5 trades the Philadelphia Phillies should make

By Brad Weiss

Jul 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) looks on in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Phillies 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) looks on in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Phillies 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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HILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 6: Jeremy Hellickson #58 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on July 6, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Braves 4-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
HILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 6: Jeremy Hellickson #58 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on July 6, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Braves 4-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

1. Jeremy Hellickson to the New York Mets

It is hard to think that on July 10 we are talking about the New York Mets needing starting pitching help. Coming into the 2016 season with a rotation that featured Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, and Steven Matz, it seemed that the Mets had a wealth of starting pitching talent. However, they have been hit by the injury bug, and now need some reinforcements.

Harvey is out for the season after requiring surgery on his right shoulder. Syndergaard left his last start with arm fatigue, and Matz has bone spurs in his elbow. Bartolo Colon and deGrom have stayed relatively healthy, but the Mets will need to be able to count on more than just their health if they wish to return to the World Series.

Jeremy Hellickson is a guy who is being scouted heavily by multiple teams, as he is the kind of pitcher who can be added to make a difference in a playoff stretch run. The right-hander has posted an earned run average under 4.00 this season, winning six of his 18 starts. He was once a top young starter in the American League, and the 29-year-old could still find that magic on a contender.

The Mets have a plethora of good talent in their farm system, and one piece the Phillies should look at is Max Wotell, a 19-year-old left-handed pitching prospect currently pitching in A ball for the Kingston Mets. Drafted in the third round of last year’s draft, Wotell made his minor league debut this season, and is 2-0 through his first three starts.

Another Kingston Mets pitcher the Phillies could ask for is Thomas Szapucki, another strong left-hander. He was the Mets’ fifth-round selection last year, and has dominated the Appalachian League through his first three starts this season, posting a 0.54 earned run average.

The two prospects are far away, but the Phillies want to build up their future so they aren’t bad for five or seven year stretches anymore. Wotell and Szapucki would give them two lefties with solid futures ahead of them.

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