New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that the team plans on reaching out to free-agent pitcher Rich Hill.
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Yankees Interested in Hill
Tuesday, Nov. 8
Brendan Kuty of NJ.com noted that while Cashman is interested in Hill, he is just one of many free agents with whom the Yankees plan on meeting.
Hill, 36, is considered by most as the top starting pitcher on the open market. He went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA and 1.00 WHIP last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics.
That marked by far the best performance of Hill’s career. An oft-injured journeyman who could never string together consecutive good seasons, Hill ascended to late-prime stardom during a short stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2015 and carried it over to last season.
Blister issues limited him to 20 starts and often kept his appearances relatively short, but Hill was one of baseball’s most effective pitchers in 2016. He struck out 10.52 batters per nine innings while only walking 2.69, setting a number of full-season career bests in the process.
Hill previously pitched for the Yankees in 2014, posting a 1.69 ERA in 14 appearances as a left-handed relief specialist. Many former teammates have vouched for Hill’s work ethic after he bounced back from a career that seemed dead in the water.
“He’s definitely a young 36-year-old,” free-agent designated hitter Billy Butler, then with the Yankees, told Kuty in October. “He’s definitely going to be one of the top free-agent arms and a great addition to any team—especially a playoff team.”
Hill has only thrown 610.1 major league innings. Sonny Gray, nine years Hill’s junior, has only thrown 2.1 fewer innings.
While we’re not accounting for minor league stints, Hill is a relatively fresh 36-year-old. He’s also got a significant history of arm issues and missed 12-13 starts during his best career year. This isn’t some slam-dunk guy you throw the farm at.
If Hill signs a two- or three-year deal, then odds are everything will be fine. If offers start reaching past his 40th birthday, though, the Yankees and every other team might want to back off.
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