Well before several teams found themselves in need of starting pitching leading up to the 2024 MLB trade deadline, Rich Hill began preparing for the possibility of only playing during the second half last year.
Hill originally floated the idea during an interview with WEEI’s Rob Bradford in August of 2022. However, he went on to sign a one-year, $8 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was on their Opening Day roster for 2023.
They traded Hill to the San Diego Padres, where he finished out the rest of the season.
The veteran has now stuck to his plan of spending more time with family and is yet to pitch in 2024. As Hill prepares for his season debut, the Los Angeles Dodgers have interest in signing the 44-year-old, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe:
Rich Hill is back on the mound and has interest from the Yankees and Dodgers. At 44, the lefty is hoping to get back for what would be a 20th season in the majors.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 25, 2024
When Hill was with the Dodgers from 2016-2019, he went 30-16 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 69 games (68 starts). Hill dealt with blisters in all but the 2019 season during his Dodgers career. They were particularly troublesome after he was acquired in a 2016 trade with the Oakland Athletics.
The Dodgers nevertheless re-signed Hill that offseason to a three-year, $48 million contract that ran through the 2019 season.
Multiple injuries limited Hill to just 13 starts in his final year with the Dodgers. He then signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins for the 2020 season.
Would signing Rich Hill help Dodgers?
The Dodgers welcomed back Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday and activated Clayton Kershaw off the 60-day injured list for his season debut Thursday, but still need to address their rotation.
The Dodgers have been connected to top starters Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet, but it remains unclear if either the Detroit Tigers or Chicago White Sox will move forward with trading their respective ace.
Hill was plenty durable last season even as he struggled with consistency. His best month was a 3.86 ERA during five starts in June.
However, after allowing six runs to the Philadelphia Phillies in just 1.1 innings, Hill closed the regular season by allowing two earned runs or fewer four games in a row, each of which was out of the bullpen.
The veteran would not be the high-end starter the Dodgers reportedly are in search of before the 3 p.m. PT trade deadline on July 30, but Hill’s experience and familiarity with the organization could potentially still be of value.
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