Hellickson Returns, Morton Signs with Astros

2017 Chachi Departures #4

2017 Chachi Departures #1

This past week saw a few additional roster moves, the biggest of which was the announcement that starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson had accepted a qualifying offer from the Phillies.  Hellickson returns to the club on a one-year contract worth $17.2 million and the Phillies won't receive an additional draft pick in the 2017 amateur player draft.

Hellickson's return provides some clarity for the front-end of the 2017 starting pitching rotation with Jared Eickhoff, Aaron Nola and Vince Velasquez expected to round out the top four.  It gets murky from there as Jake Thompson, Adam Morgan and Alec Asher (among others) will all be vying for the fifth starter's spot.

Charlie Morton, who entered the 2016 season as the club's #3 starter, recently signed a two-year deal with the Astros.  Morton made only four starts for the Phillies before a brutal hamstring injury ended his season prematurely.  His sole mainstream Phillies cards can be found within the Topps Phillies retail team set and the 2016 Topps Heritage set.  Morton also appeared in the early season, first edition Phillies photo card set.

Finally, reliever Patrick Schuster (6 games, 2 innings pitched, 45.00 ERA) signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers.  He'll enter the ranks of former Phillies players with no official Phillies baseball card.

Charlie Morton Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi New Additions #9
2016 Chachi #16
2017 Chachi Departures #4

Patrick Schuster Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #60
2016 Chachi Fan Appreciation Day #6
2017 Chachi Departures #1

Moving On - 2016-2017 Offseason

• Cedric Hunter - of (10/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• James Russell - lhp (10/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• Emmanuel Burriss - inf (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Frank Herrmann - rhp (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Jimmy Paredes - of (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Patrick Schuster - lhp (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 11/5/16.
• Ryan Howard - 1b (11/3/16) - Team option declined and elected free agency.
• Charlie Morton - rhp (11/3/16) - Team option declined, elected free agency and signed with the Houston Astros, 11/16/16.
• Andres Blanco - inf (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• Peter Bourjos - of (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• A.J. Ellis - c (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• David Hernandez - rhp (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• Darin Ruf - 1b-of and Darnell Sweeney - inf-of (11/11/16) - Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Howie Kendrick.

Coming Back

• Jeremy Hellickson - rhp (11/3/16) - Elected free agency, accepted team's qualifying offer, 11/14/16.

New Additions - 2016-2017 Offseason

• Pat Neshek - rhp (11/4/16) - Acquired from the Houston Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
• Howie Kendrick - lf (11/11/16) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney.