The Pittsburgh Pirates Should Target Jeremy Hellickson

Jul 25, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 25, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates need starting pitching help. With the non-waiver trade deadline now less than a week away, the Pirates should target Jeremy Hellickson.

Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is now less than a week away. Due to Tyler Glasnow being on the disabled list, Chad Kuhl being injured at Triple-A, and ineffectiveness from Jeff Locke and Jon Niese the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves in need of starting pitching help. As I wrote yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates should add Steven Brault to their starting rotation. However, this would still leave them in need of another starting pitcher.

In recent weeks the Pittsburgh Pirates have been connected to a plethora of starting pitchers. Chris Archer, Hector Santiago, Matt Moore, Michael Pineda, and Nathan Eovaldi are among the starting pitcher the Pirates have been tied to. However, the starting pitcher that, in my opinion, the Pittsburgh Pirates need to target is Philadelphia Phillies’ right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson.

While Jeremy Hellickson might not be the sexiest name ever, he is a pitcher that would help out the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation. On the season Hellickson is averaging 7.66 K/9, 2.01 BB/9, 1.26 HR/9, and he has a 1.12 WHIP in 125 2/3 innings pitched this season. This has resulted in Hellickson posting a 3.65 ERA, 4.17 FIP, and a 3.89 xFIP this season.

The Philadelphia Phillies are just 46-55 on the season, and are ready to move players between now and Monday. Jeremy Hellickson is undoubtedly one of the players that the Phillies are shopping. Many teams have scouted and targeting Hellickson, now the Pittsburgh Pirates need to do so.

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Jeremy Hellickson is also a pitcher that the Pittsburgh Pirates have had interest in before. After the 2014 season, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Hellickson to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Then this past offseason, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies.

When the Tampa Bay Rays were shopping Jeremy Hellickson during the 2014-2015 offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates were among the teams discussing a Hellickson trade with the Rays. The Pirates appeared to be one of the teams at the front of the Hellickson sweepstakes, but their asking price got too high. This shows that Neal Huntington and the Pirate brass are fans of Hellickson and would be interested in adding him to the Pirates’ starting rotation.

Jeremy Hellickson’s cost should not be as high now. The biggest reason is Hellickson will be a free agent at the end of the season. So while Hellickson would be a rental player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, I still believe the Bucs should target him.

Next: What Have Been Neal Huntington's Best Trades?

The Pittsburgh Pirates need to add starting pitching help before the August 1st non-waiver trade deadline. Out of the pitchers who are available, Jeremy Hellickson, in my opinion, is the pitcher that the Pirates need to be targeting. Even though Hellickson will be a free agent at the end of the season, he  would help the Pittsburgh Pirates playoff push right now.