PHILADELPHIA -- Jeremy Hellickson has seven days to make a life-changing decision.
The Phillies on Monday made Hellickson a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer. He must accept or reject it by Nov. 14. If Hellickson accepts it, he will return to the Phillies in 2017. If he rejects it, he will become a free agent and the Phillies will receive Draft-pick compensation should he sign with another team.
The selection could fall around the 25th overall pick in next summer's Draft. The Phillies would also receive more money in their signing bonus pool as a result of the extra pick.
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Hellickson, 29, is expected to reject the offer, despite what he said following his final start in September.
"I mean, I definitely could see it," Hellickson said about accepting it.
That's because a multi-year contract is the goal.
"Yeah, I would love that actually a little bit more," Hellickson also said.
Hellickson might get it, too. The free agent starting pitching market is relatively weak this offseason, so his stock has improved. He helped his cause this year by going 12-10 with a 3.71 ERA and career highs in starts (32) and innings (189).
Comparable starters like Mike Leake (five years, $80 million) and Ian Kennedy (five years, $70 million) signed lucrative contracts this past offseason, which also bodes well for Hellickson.