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| Aaron Heilman appears to be staying in Chicago for the rest of the 2009 season, according to ESPN.com. Heilman was claimed off waivers by the Giants, but the two sides were reportedly unable to work out a deal. |
Our View: The Giants have been vocal about their desire to add pitching before the deadline, but it looks like Heilman won't be the guy to help them out. He hasn't been all that impressive this season, so it comes as no surprise that the Giants balked on the move.
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| Aaron Heilman has been claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants, according to ESPN Chicago. |
Our View: Heilman, with an expiring contract and 4.55 ERA, wouldn't fetch much in return for the Cubbies, but with the team nine games out of the NL Central lead and seven games back in the wild card race, chances of a deal happening are probably about 50/50.
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| According to FOXSports.com, an unknown team has claimed Aaron Heilman on waivers. |
Our View: Fellow Cub Rich Harden was claimed as well, but no word yet on if the team is going to pull them back or make a deal. There are teams looking for bullpen help that could use him, but it all weighs on if the Cubs think their season is over (which it likely is).
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| Aaron Heilman started the tenth inning of Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Marlins, but he failed to record an out. He gave up three hits, two walks, and six runs, five of which were earned. |
Our View: Heilman entered the game with a 0.82 ERA through 11 innings. However, he was miserable tonight and he's now walked eight batters on the season. He'll need to improve his command in order to be an effective reliever the rest of the way.
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| Aaron Heilman made his fourth start of the spring on Thursday as the Cubs beat the Mariners 9-2. Over 3.2 innings of work, he allowed four hits, a walk, and one unearned run while striking out three. |
Our View: Heilman may be the front runner for the fifth starter's job at this point. He is carrying a 1.32 ERA in 13.2 innings of work. He has also struck out 16 hitters compared to just four walks. Of all his issues last season in a relief role with the Mets, his 5.45 BB/9 rate was the biggest concern.
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| Aaron Heilman fanned three on Thursday in a three inning start for the Cubs. He also allowed just one hit and two walks while shutting out the White Sox. |
Our View: Heilman is certainly giving himself a shot to be the Cubs' fifth starter. He expressed a wish to start before the Mets dealt him to Seattle before the Mariners flipped him to the Cubs and he's proving that he had good reason for that wish.
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| Newly acquired hurler Aaron Heilman recently spoke out on his possible insertion into the Cubs' starting rotation, according to the Arlington Herald. "I certainly love the opportunity to get a chance to start again," Heilman said. "It's something I always enjoyed doing and feel I can still be very successful at." |
Our View: After the signing of Heilman, Cubs GM Randy Bush didn't rule out the possibility of Chicago still pursuing Jake Peavy and he said the door is always open. However, he noted that discussions between the two parties have been non-existent since the Winter Meetings.
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| The Cubs have acquired Aaron Heilman from the Mariners in exchange for Ronny Cedeno and Garrett Olson, sources have told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. |
Our View: Heilman could be given a chance to compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, or he might end up in the bullpen. Given that he wouldn't be used as a closer, obviously he would have more value as a starter. If he is used in the rotation, this could affect the team's pursuit of Jake Peavy.
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| There is speculation that the Cubs are close to acquiring Aaron Heilman from Seattle, as reported by Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio. |
Our View: The Mariners would like to add shortstop Ronny Cedeno and pitching help. The Cubs' bullpen is already crowded, but they may give Heilman a shot at a rotation spot. If they do, that might put an end to their talks with the Padres for Jake Peavy.
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| The Tacoma Tribune reports that the Mariners expect Aaron Heilman to compete for a spot in the rotation with Brandon Morrow this spring. Heilman was acquired in the J.J. Putz deal. |
Our View: Heilman did not start last season with the Mets. Instead he made 78 appearances out of the bullpen and compiled a 5.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP.
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| The Tacoma Tribune reports that the Mariners have agreed on a deal with reliever Aaron Heilman. Heilman, who was acquired in the J.J. Putz deal in December, was Seattle's last remaining player eligible for arbitration. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. |
Our View: It is unclear as to what type of role Heilman will undertake in Seattle. Before leaving New York, he stated his wishes to return to the rotation, where he has a 5.93 ERA in 25 career starts.
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| MLB.com reports that Aaron Heilman has been dealt from the Mets to the Mariners as part of a 12-player transaction. |
Our View: The reliever had a down year last season going just 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA and he will likely remain a reliever in Seattle.
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| The Rangers garnered interest in Mets' pitcher Aaron Heilman, according to Newsday. |
Our View: This could have happened at the same time the Mets inquired about Rangers' catcher Gerald Laird, and a deal would make sense as the Mets would like to upgrade at catcher and the Rangers need pitching help.
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| The Rays like Aaron Heilman, but as a reliever and not a potential starter, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: There was previously speculation that the Mets were considering trading for Edwin Jackson, but the Rays would not let him go in exchange for Heilman. The Rays still feel Jackson can develop into a special player.
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| Aaron Heilman does not want to be traded by the Mets, but wants to be a starting pitcher, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: The Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Athletics, Rays and Rangers have all shown interest in Heilman, namely the Rockies. There is speculation the Mets may deal Heilman along with a prospect to the Rockies in exchange for reliever Huston Street. Heilman would have a fair shot to compete for a spot in the Rockies' rotation.
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| The Mets are likely to trade for a reliever prior to making a run at one of the top closers, such as Francisco Rodriguez, according to MetsBlog.com. |
Our View: Aaron Heilman is believed to potentially be a trade chip, as the Mets try to deal for a reliever such as Huston Street or J.J. Putz, to name a few.
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| The Mets are expected to honor Aaron Heilman's wish to pitch with another MLB club in 2009, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: He would like to challenge for a starting role, potentially with the Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, or Diamondbacks. He struggled with a poor 5.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 76 innings of relief with New York in 2008.
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| Aaron Heilman admitted that he had been dealing with tendinitis in his left knee for most of the season, according to the NY Post. |
Our View: That could explain why he struggled this season with a 5.38 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 73.2 innings of relief.
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| With Billy Wagner still unavailable, Aaron Heilman picked up the save Friday for the Mets, allowing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless ninth. |
Our View: Wagner is slated to return on Monday, but Heilman is the best bet for saves over the weekend.
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| Aaron Heilman blew his third save of the season and also picked up his seventh loss of the year allowing three runs while recording just one out against the Pirates. |
Our View: Awful. Not only was Heilman terribly, Scott Schoeneweis also played his part when he came in to relieve Heilman and actually allowed the winning run (though it was charged to Heilman). The Mets bullpen is lost, and they need Billy Wagner back, badly.
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| Aaron Heilman picked up his first save of the season on Friday night by hurling two shutout innings against the Marlins. |
Our View: Heilman should be the Mets closer with Billy Wagner on the sidelines, but he just can't seem to put together enough appearances like he had tonight. He should pick up a few more chances until Wagner returns.
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| The Mets are reportedly shopping Aaron Heilman in exchange for a reliable setup man, according to MetsBlog.com. |
Our View: There are teams that believe Heilman can develop into a starting pitcher, and there is still some within the Mets' organization that feel the same way, but things are not working out for him as a reliever right now. Heilman holds a 6.35 ERA and poor 1.63 WHIP over 22.2 innings, with 23 strikeouts.
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| Manager Willie Randolph could be overusing Aaron Heilman, according to the NY Post. Heilman currently leads the National League in appearances with 12, and his 225 pitches are among the most of any NL reliever. Heilman has pitched in five of the Mets' past six games as well. Randolph believes Heilman is the heir apparent to closer Billy Wagner, but he needs to give him some rest before he burns him out. |
Our View: While fantasy owners are pleased with his 14 strikeouts right now, his overuse could hurt him in the long run if Randolph doesn't back off a bit.
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| Aaron Heilman could be the heir apparent to closer Billy Wagner, according to MetsFever.com. Wagner thinks Heilman has the tools, and also the metal toughness to handle the pressure packed role of a closer, and said, "Awesome. Heilman's the closer of the future. They just don't know it yet. Heilman will be the closer here in two years. He's got the stuff, but mentally he's got what it takes, too. The people that do the evaluating in baseball, they've never pitched. They don't know what it takes. But he's got it."
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| Aaron Heilman was not available Monday due to a sore elbow, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Heilman threw 41 pitches and picked up the loss in Sunday's game at Atlanta. Heilman, who was bothered by elbow tendinitis during spring training, had surgery during the off-season to remove bone chips. But he said this was nothing serious. |
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| Sources from the Chicago Tribune have indicated that the Cubs may be interested in acquiring Aaron Heilman in a trade. Heilman would be given a starting job in Chicago, something he isn't guaranteed of in New York. |
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