NEW YORK -- Any small chance that Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson had to be traded before the end of the season has become no chance.
Sources confirmed Sunday afternoon that Hellickson recently had been claimed on waivers. But the Phillies could not complete a trade with the claiming team, so they pulled him off waivers, making him ineligible to be traded the rest of the year. CSNPhilly.com first reported the news.
So what's next for Hellickson, who the Phillies also tried to trade before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline? He is set to become a free agent after the season. The Phillies are expected to make him a qualifying offer, which allows them to receive a compensation pick in the 2017 Draft, if he rejects the offer and signs elsewhere.
It is likely that he rejects the offer, but Hellickson might be tempted by the one-year offer worth an estimated $17 million.
Hellickson, 29, is 10-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 26 starts this season.