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Los Angeles Dodgers Hope to Re-sign Rich Hill

By Eric Roseberry

Sep 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) in the second inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) in the second inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rich Hill has made just two starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they are reportedly already interested in re-signing him before this offseason’s free agency period.

In a column from Saturday, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe noted that the Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in re-signing Rich Hill before he becomes a free agent at the end of this season. Los Angeles acquired Hill in August when they sent Frankie Montas, Grant Holmes and Jharel Cotton to the A’s. The Dodgers also received Josh Reddick in the trade.

Since coming to the Dodgers, HIll has only made two starts. On Saturday against the Padres he went six innings and surrendered one hit with eight strikeouts. The left-hander recently missed just over a month of the season (July 17 – August 24) with a blister on his pitching hand. For the year Hill is 11-3 with a 1.94 ERA (2.44 FIP).

Rich Hill’s free agency case is an interesting one. He’s already 36 and will be 37 by the start of the 2017 season. Not only that, but he’s struggled with injuries throughout his career. Ken Rosenthal ran down this history while discussing Hill’s recent return to the big leagues. His major injuries required shoulder surgery in 2009, and Tommy John in 2011. This doesn’t include the numerous minor injuries that have bothered him over the years such as back and leg trouble.

It’s hard for some to imagine why teams would scramble to sign a pitcher in his mid-to-late 30s with an injury history. First, Hill has been really good since his stint in Boston last season. Michael Baumann detailed Hill’s progression from injured and struggling to dominant starter. In 2015 and 2016 combined he’s thrown 117 innings with a 1.85 ERA and a 223 ERA+. It’s still a small sample size, but it will be difficult for teams to pass on those kinds of results.

The second reason the Dodgers would like to re-sign Hill is that the crop of free agent starters for next season looks “historically bleak” according to MLB Trade Rumors. If Hill is off the board then a pitcher like Jeremy Hellickson might be the best starter available. The lack of starting pitching talent available would make Hill a valuable commodity for a number of MLB teams.

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Hill could be even more valuable to a Dodgers rotation that has struggled to stay healthy this season. Clayton Kershaw hasn’t pitched in a game since June 26, but he could return this week. Other Dodgers starters currently on the DL include Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-jin Ryu and Alex Wood.

Los Angeles has been able to piece together a rotation over the past month, but it’s clear that injuries could be a continued concern for this group. If that’s the case the team will need as many quality starters on hand as possible, and based on his results there aren’t any starters who will be worth adding to that mix more than Rich Hill.

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