When the Los Angeles Dodgers were looking to make a splash at the trade deadline during the 2016 season, they aimed to address multiple needs by acquiring Rich Hill and Josh Reddick from the Oakland Athletics.
However, Hill was hardly the best starting pitcher available, and he was on the 10-day injured list at the time of being traded. His blisters remained a chronic issue but Hill was effective when he managed to take the mound.
He was rewarded with a three-year, $48 million contract that ran through the 2019 season. Hill was largely healthy in 2017 and 2018, but dealt with multiple injuries this year that limited him to just 13 starts.
Now a free agent at 39 years old and with the intention of continuing to pitch, Hill recently said on MLB Network Radio that he is looking to sign with a World Series contender:
“There’s been a lot of good interest out there. Obviously, being in L.A. the last four years, my heart’s there, for sure. And Boston’s my home. But both of those places might not work out. Really, I’m just looking at contenders right now. I want to go back to not just the postseason, I want to go back to the World Series.”
The Dodgers and Boston Red Sox have been among the teams with reported interest in the left-hander. L.A. figures to offer a better opportunity at a World Series and a pressure-free recovery because of the organization’s pitching depth.
Hill pitched this season with a portion of the UCL in his left elbow detached and recently underwent a procedure to correct it. He’s expected to make a full recovery but remain sidelined through at least June of the 2020 season.
Hill was 30-16 with a 3.16 ERA, 3.71 FIP and 1.08 WHIP in 69 games (68 starts) over parts of four seasons with the Dodgers. He was one of the club’s four players to reach free agency this winter; David Freese retired, Hyun-Jin joined the Toronto Blue Jays, and Russell Martin is still on the open market.
As Hill continues to look for a new contract, he was just arrested along with his wife over an incident at Gillette Stadium that stemmed from the size of her purse. Chargers were reduced to civil infractions and theHills each paid a fine.
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