Dodgers southpaw Rich Hill is working his way back to the mound this year, with plans for more, as Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports. The veteran hurler is presently on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain but says he has now begun a throwing program.
Hill is still a month away from possible activation, but it’s encouraging to hear that he’s already beginning to move in a positive direction. There was initial concern that he had suffered a catastrophic injury, but Hill says those fears subsided rather quickly. Now, he’s “anxious to get started again.” It certainly seems as if the near-term outlook is rather optimistic.
Once he does get back going, Hill has no plans to stop. “I want to play as long as I can,” he says, though he acknowledges there’s always some uncertainty when it comes to health.
Hill’s contract expires after the present season. He’ll be eligible for a qualifying offer, which could well be a possibility given how well he has pitched when available. Hill has made between twenty and twenty-five starts annually since 2016 and won’t even reach that level this year, but he’s sporting a 2.93 ERA since the start of his stunning rebirth in late 2015.
So, how might the future look? “It could be one of those things where I go year to year,” says Hill, though he adds that he’s “not 100 percent sure” what form his next contract will take.
As for location, there are also some notable hints. “[H]opefully I can stay in L.A.,” says Hill, who says he relishes the competitive success the Dodgers have had in his time there. The club has made good use of Hill, with an approach that embraces his occasional absences and even views them as a means of keeping him at top form when he is active.
Of course, there’s also a strong pull to Boston. Not only did he launch his comeback with the Red Sox, but Hill’s family still resides there. He cited a desire to keep his son around the professional game as part of his plan for continuing to pitch, while also bemoaning the lack of time with his family once school starts. Boston “has always been home,” says Hill, who otherwise cites “a chance to compete” as the “biggest” draw in his future.
It certainly seems that his current and former organizations hold plenty of allure to the 39-year-old Hill, who may well be set up for a remarkable (and lucrative) run past forty years of age. “I feel like I have a lot of good pitching left in me,” he says.
Decline
retire you were to tired in the world series to keep pitching
Seriously?
Lol.
He pitched great in both WS though..
Roberts was the problem not Hill, my friend.
@bluemarc What in fact were you watching, because you obviously do not have a clue.
God bless this man and his will to keep going. you’d think he’d hang them up after all these injuries, but he just wolnt. credit where credit is due! can’t blame him for a personal descision, or if he gets signed or relied upon by a team.
Would love to see Hill back on the Dodgers next year. However their #1 priority should be resigning Ryu and if that happens it could be difficult to find a spot for Hill. Although with the way they value depth that may not matter
Dodgers ended up trading a dent haul for him
LA could use a lefty weapon out of the bullpen in October. They need Hill.
If he can pitch it probably won’t be out of the bullpen, at least not in a long series. He also isn’t the kind of pitcher who offers great lefty splits. His best pitch is more effective against righties.
Forget all that; Hill’s stuff will work. He will not build up to a starter or overtake your top 4.
Your alternative is Caleb Ferguson or dealing a potential breakout prospect for a second lefty. Rosscup isn’t the answer either. Hill and his lethal hook would be a huge boost against the Cubs lefty hitters if LA draws them.
I think you must be miscounting. Hill is already part of the top four, along with Kershaw, Bueller, and Ryu. With Hill healthy, Maeda is back to number five and he gets bumped (again) the bullpen in the postseason. Ferguson and Rosscup aren’t the answer to any question, except for “who do you DFA?” Dealing for a lefty is the answer. They need to make move by next week, before they know whether Hill is coming back.
I’ve watched Hill enough; I really believe his stuff could carve up the prominent lefties in baseball. I look at his curve ball, and when it’s on it’s devastating. Imagine him coming in after Walker flames guys for 7 innings?
I remember Stroman getting back up to speed in 2015 using all of September. So Hill could certainly sneak his way back into the rotation. It can be done.
Not saying it can’t happen, if only because Hill was a reliever in a past life, but I do think the plan has to be to get him back into the rotation.
I fount the Dodgers will offer a QO because he’ll probably take it. I’d offer year to year at this point and I’ll be surprised if he actually contributes anymore this season.
I dont think the Dodgers would want to tie up that much money in him. No QO. He will probably go back to Boston.
The Dodgers made that move with Ryu, even with his checkered health history, and lots of people called that nuts at the time. It also isn’t a choice between Hill getting a QO from the Dodgers and going to Boston. The Dodgers are just as capable of making him a free agency offer if it comes to that.
1 year 2 million dollar base. 500K for every start after the 10th.
A million bucks when he hits 100 innings. And 2 million if he hits 150 innings. I’m not guaranteeing Hill much of anything with his injury history. That base salary is probably too low. But i don’t think you can really count on the guy for more than 18-20 starts.
Maybe if free agency wasn’t a thing. He’ll be offered more than that by another team
I think he’ll get more but it’ll be probably be w heavy incentives involved. I’m sure he’ll wind up w a 6-7 million dollar guarantee. The guy is a walking DL stint at 40 years old. I certainly wouldn’t even consider a QO.
In other words, you’re not signing him.
4.1 FIP giving up 1.7 Hr/9 while pitching half his games in a fairly pitcher friendly park. He’s also 40 year olds w constant blister issues. Guaranteeing him more than 5 million bucks is a game you play when you want to throw away money. How much can you guarantee a starter who might give you 20 starts on a good year? I’ll happily pay him if he’s available but I’m not guaranteeing the guy a 10 million dollar base salary.
His age alone is going to argue against making him a QO, but his blister issue is hardly constant. He hasn’t lost time to that problem in over a year. Jamie Moyer made $6.5M in his age 40 season, and that was 15 years ago, and he just kept going from there. I’m guessing Moyer is Hill’s model of pitching past 40. If Hill can get healthy again a QO isn’t unthinkable.
If you wanna pay 18+ mil for a guy who hasn’t thrown 150 innings Since 2007 be my guest.
Not sure what this comment is supposed to mean, but the short answer I guess is I’m not interesting is keeping the books for the Dodgers. They have people for that. I look at this as a fan, not a wannabe team CFO. As a fan, a guy who can throw 150 high quality innings at the bottom of a rotation looks like a winner. If Hill can do that, I don’t care what number he has on his paycheck.
If he has a couple more mediocre seasons he might make the hall of fame. Baines made it.
He’s not even close to close. Hasn’t pitched 1000 innings yet, 15 career fWAR, and for the traditionalists, only 65 wins. Nowhere near HoF even even if he has two blindingly good seasons in the future.
I’d like to see him back in Boston next season… I know he’s hurt half of the year but still he was fun to watch with the Sox and if they could possibly get him at a reasonable rate he’d be a massive improvement over Porcello!
I hope that he can sign on somewhere other than LA next year.
I remember his as an Oriole pitching a gem against the Phillies. Sucked every other start though. That was 2009
One year $5 million plus start incentives seems fair for a part time pitcher…..