2012 MLB Free Agents: Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks Reach Agreement
By Editorial Staff
Less than a month after the Arizona Diamondbacks declined his 2012 option, Aaron Hill has reached a two-year agreement to return to the desert. The deal will reportedly pay Hill, who joined the Diamondbacks last summer, $11 million over his two seasons with the club.
This August, the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays swapped second basemen. Hill and John McDonald were traded to Arizona, while Kelly Johnson joined the Blue Jays.
Though the Diamondbacks said all along that they wanted to bring Hill back in 2012, Arizona was unwilling to do so for the $8 million it would have cost them to pick up his option. Instead, the option was declined and Hill was allowed to hit the open market, at least for a little while.
As expected, the two sides have reached an agreement that will keep Hill in Arizona for the next two seasons. Instead of $8 million, the Diamondbacks will pay Hill an average annual salary of $5.5 million in 2012-13.
Over his 33 games with the Diamondbacks, Hill posted an OPS of .878 with 16 extra base hits and RBI’s. Combined with the marks Hill put up in Toronto, the 29-year-old finished 2011 hitting at a clip of .246/.299/.356 with 27 doubles, eight home runs and 61 RBI’s.
Over his career, Hill has shown an ability to hit for power but also an inability to reach base safely. Though he did hit 62 long balls in 2009-10, Hill’s career OBP is only .321.
For more on the Diamondbacks, be sure to check out Venom Strikes.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.