After struggling to find consistency with their pitching staff, the Arizona Diamondbacks moved to remedy the problem on Friday night. Jeremy Hellickson was traded to the Diamondbacks for minor league outfielder Justin Williams and infielder Andrew Velazquez, who will be headed the other way:
The Diamondbacks provide full details on the trade.
In 13 starts last year, Hellickson went 1-5 with a 4.52 ERA. The 27-year-old was among the Rays' best starting pitchers in 2011 and 2012, but his numbers have taken a tumble in each of the last two years. Maybe a move away from Tampa can help Hellickson regain his old form.
Baseball Prospectus rated Williams as the ninth-best prospect in Arizona's system when the regular season began. With an ETA of 2017, it will be years before the Rays see a return on their investment.
Andrew Velazquez doesn't quite have the same pedigree, but Baseball America's Ben Badler thinks the young middle infielder could become a dependable option:
Velazquez had a slash line of .290/.367/.428 with nine home runs, 56 runs batted in and 50 stolen bases in 134 games with the Single-A South Bend Silver Hawks in 2014.
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