Fansided

One free agent each MLB team should sign right now

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
23 of 30
Next
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 16: Jeremy Hellickson #58 of the Baltimore Orioles in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 16, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Orioles 9-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 16: Jeremy Hellickson #58 of the Baltimore Orioles in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 16, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Orioles 9-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

San Diego Padres: Jeremy Hellickson

Spending $144 million on Eric Hosmer is all well and good, but the Padres are still several years away from fielding a contending ballclub. Putting together a lineup of eight hitters who can be reasonably successful in Petco Park is never going to be easy, but the Padres have not had much luck developing pitchers during their long stretches of losing.

The Padres could see top pitching prospect Cal Quantrill in the big leagues this year, but should not rush him if he is not absolutely ready. That has been part of the problem for San Diego as young arms have consistently climbed through their system only to disappoint or suffer from arm injuries.

Teams that get ahead of themselves push their young pitching prospects to do too much too soon and it hurts the entire rebuilding process. The best thing the Padres can do this season is bring in as many veteran arms to sop up innings as possible. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson fits that bill perfectly.

The 30-year-old is coming off a disappointing 2017 season, but pitching for the Phillies and Orioles was less than an ideal fit for the fly-ball pitcher. In the right setting, Hellickson can be a league-average starter and good for close to 200 innings a season.

Home/MLB