But Hellickson didn't go away after last season.
He provided value this season in terms of eating innings and protecting young pitchers (we've promoted too many, but without him it would have been worse).
Unfortunately, he hasn't performed well enough to provide additional value at the trade deadline.
However, the "opportunity cost" of keeping him wasn't that great either, it wasn't a top 100 pick (or Klentak, by his own admission, would have pulled the trigger), it was maybe a best a top 200 prospect.
So Klentak "lost" the gamble, but it was a reasonable gamble, a mediocre prospect v his value as a pitcher this year plus his value at the trade deadline.
THe only major move, and the only "available" asset, was the Giles trade, which has come down to Giles for Eshelman and velasquez (Appel is dead meat, Arauz for Arauz looks pretty even).
And that trade probably depends on whether Eshelman becomes a back of the rotation starter.
If Quinn had remained healthy, Herrera might have a new address by now, but crap happens.
The next major moves will be in December/July, depending on offers and the readiness (or tradablility) of Kingery and Crawford.
At some point Klentak will move Galvis, Hernandez, Joseph, a catcher, maybe an extra starting pitcher. But there is no reason to rush if current offers are inadequate.
He might wait to keep clocks from starting (since they won't be competitive for a couple more years, what's the rush?), or jump at a good offer.
His abilty to use those assets, plus his money, to garner high quality assets will give us a better read on his acumen.
But rushing to do something, or waiting a year, tells us little, because we don't know what offers he's receiving and what information he's receiving about the readiness and progress of his own prospects.
So you'll have to wait a year to "rush to judgment." Because whether he's incompetent or brilliant, either way it's doubtful you'll know for another year (i.e. rushing to make a move could be a sign of insecurity, patience could be a reflection of timidity, you won't know until after the fact).
