The Phillies’ Returns for Hellickson and Kendrick
Philadelphia made a pair of trades Friday, sending Howie Kendrick to Washington for LHP McKenzie Mills. They also traded RHP Jeremy Hellickson to Baltimore for LHP Garrett Cleavinger and OF Hyun Soo Kim. Philadelphia also received bonus pool money from both clubs.
Baltimore gets
RHP Jeremy Hellickson
Washington gets
2B Howie Kendrick
Philadelphia gets
LHP McKenzie Mills
LHP Garrett Cleavinger
OF Hyun Soo Kim
International Bonus Slots
Mills is a 21-year old, big-bodied lefty with advanced changeup feel. He was an 18th round pick out of Sprayberry HS (GA) in 2014 and then spent each of his first three pro seasons in either rookie or short-season ball. Mills struggled with control. His strikeout and walk rates — 20% and 12%, respectively, in 2016 and 28% and 5% this year — have both drastically improved this year and he’s having more success as the season goes on despite having already doubled his innings total frmo last year.
As far as the stuff in concerned, Mills is a deceptive 88-92 with downhill plane and could have an above average changeup at maturity. His below average curveball has shape but not power. He can locate it, and his other pitches, and projects to have starter’s control/command. He has K’d 118 hitters in 104.2 innings with Low-A Potomac and is a potential backend starter.
Cleavinger, a 2015 3rd rounder out of Oregon, is a pure relief prospect with a low-90s fastball and loopy, twisting curveball. His command is very erratic and, while he has premium loogy funk and repertoire, it needs to develop significantly if Cleavinger’s to have a steady big league role.
The Phillies also acquired $1 million in international bonus money yesterday General Manager Matt Klentak’s post-trade comments indicate that money will be speculatively used to as yet unidentified or available talent on the international market. The Phillies were originally allotted a $4.75 million bonus pool for the international period and spent a significant amount of it on five players, including SS Luis Garcia ($2.5 mil) and four other players who all signed for around $500k each.
Eric Longenhagen is from Catasauqua, PA and currently lives in Tempe, AZ. He spent four years working for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate, two with Baseball Info Solutions and two contributing to prospect coverage at ESPN.com. Previous work can also be found at Sports On Earth, CrashburnAlley and Prospect Insider.
“premium loogy funk”
Is there any clue as the Orioles’ thinking? I’m baffled by the trade.
My best guess is that Kim didn’t have any place in their plans and they don’t see Cleavinger developing into an MLB player, so they might as well try to do something about that pathetic rotation and see if they get lucky, or at least take the burden off their younger pitchers.
Not that I necessarily believe it myself, but it’s the best I can do to rationalize it.
The Orioles trade international bonus slots. They figure, “why sign amateur talent when we can give it away as freebies to consummate trades”? Actually, I don’t actually know that’s what they think, but it is my best guess.
Cleavinger is a non-prospect, and they’ve been doing everything to avoid playing Kim for a while (although this year it is more justified).
I don’t think this should alarm or excite you any more than the Orioles normal operating procedure.
To be fair, building up an international scouting/development program takes time and money. If you don’t already have agents and academies in several countries, your $1M is probably more efficiently “spent” on the trade market in exchange for players with much lower variance in outcomes.
Hellickson fits perfectly into the Orioles rotation. Tall righty with average stuff who will eat innings while giving up Hrs but flashing just enough promise to make you think he’s an asset if you squint just right.
So he’s the next Sidney Ponson or Jeremy Guthrie, just a bit taller.
Thank you Eric for the great information on all the prospects.
The Orioles’ absolute refusal to sign international talent infuriates me, as a fan.