The Dodgers are hoping to sign August acquisition Rich Hill to a multiyear contract before he reaches free agency in the offseason, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. In his time with the A’s and Dodgers this season, the 36-year-old left-hander has dealt with multiple injuries – including a nagging blister – but he has been stellar when healthy. The journeyman has thrown 12 shutout innings in his two starts with the Dodgers, the latest being a six-frame, one-hit showing Saturday. Overall, Hill owns a sparkling 1.94 ERA to accompany a 10.33 K/9, 3.07 BB/9, 48.8 percent ground-ball rate and 14.9 percent infield fly mark through 88 innings. Despite his age, durability issues and limited track record, Hill’s next deal should easily outdo the one-year, $6MM pact he signed with Oakland as a free agent last offseason.
Here’s more from Cafardo:
- Cubs players and executives will try to convince catcher David Ross not to retire after the season, Cafardo writes. Ross declared in November that this would likely be his final year, and the respected team leader has since slashed a solid .241/.360/.448 with eight home runs in 182 plate appearances while grading as one of Baseball Prospectus’ top framers and blockers. If Ross doesn’t return as a 40-year-old in 2017, the Cubs have a more-than-capable heir apparent in Willson Contreras. They also owe fellow backstop Miguel Montero $14MM next season, the final year of his contract.
- The Twins’ search for a general manager could lead them to either Cubs senior vice president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod or former Boston GM Ben Cherington, according to Cafardo. Of course, the club is also looking for a president of baseball operations whose role will include choosing a GM.
- Free agent outfielder Carl Crawford is likely to give baseball another try next season, a source told Cafardo, who adds that the 35-year-old could focus on his longtime team, the Rays, and his hometown club, the Astros, as potential landing spots. Crawford has been out of the picture since the Dodgers released him in June. Regardless of whether the four-time All-Star plays again, he’ll make $21.8MM next season to conclude the seven-year, $142MM deal he signed with Boston in 2010.
I used to get annoyed by Carfardo’s homerism but now I find it amusing. Comparing Castillo to Puig gave me a big laugh.
There was nothing about Castillo or Puig on the entire post.
Also, he’s a Boston Globe reporter, so calling him a homer doesn’t apply. Of course he’s going to rant and rave about the city’s team of which he reports on.
I suppose that hoping for David Ross to come back in 2017 is okay. He hasn’t had a bad season at all and catchers, at least ones who can call a game, are always in demand.
I think signing Hill to a one year extension with an option would make the most sense for the Dodgers, because they have a ton of starters coming up through the minors already.
Maybe the Cubs and Braves can work out a deal for Montero? The Braves only have Flowers and Recker signed for next year and neither of those looks like a legitimate starting catcher even though they have hit ok this season. Maybe Montero + cash for Recker + a B/C-type prospect would work.
Cubs already had Recker if I recall. They can keep him
Recker had a short stint with the Cubs in 2012.
Odds are, Hill is looking for 3 years minimum. He’s going to be the top starter in a super weak FA field – people will want him.
Although a 1+1 would be nice for the Dodgers.
Agree. Hill just got 1y this year. Chances of him only getting what was suggested a few posted above with the slim pickings this coming FA off season are slim to none. Agree also even with his advanced age and virtually no track record that he’ll get 3y and maybe an option year tagged onto that.
To his age 37, 38, 39, and possibly age 40 seasons? He’s been good for the past two seasons, and granted the free agent field isn’t strong, but he isn’t exactly Greg Maddux.
He’s also a lefty…and lefties last way past the usual age (Jamie Moyer, anyone?). As a pitcher ages, their main problem becomes velocity. As long as Hill can continue to show decent to good control, he’ll find a spot in this league as long as he wants.
What theory supports the idea that lefties last longer than righties? Jamie Moyer is pretty much the ultimate outlier (outside of maybe Satchel Paige, who BTW was a righty). And Hill hasn’t exactly been Mr. Durable over the course his career, either.
AMEN ON MONTERO!
I hope we can get Hill for 2 years and $35-$40m. I suspect he will want 3 years
All your #’s are spot on. FA always forces a team to pay for 1 years they would rather not commit to. This is Hill’s only chance at big money.
No chance he signs a 1 year deal. He will get solid 2 yr $17mm (i.e. Lackey money) to $40mm offers… Someone will offer him a 3rd year with a lower AAV than the 2yr
Continuing to be mystified by these projections, based on really only the one season of useful production. After more than a decade of bouncing around between organizations, demotions, non-tenders, and releases, he’s now worth three years at top dollar to his age 39 season?
Crawford gets $21.8 Million next season whether he plays or not? Just another example of what’s wrong with MLB.
Why? Because teams have to actually stand by the terrible contracts that they give out
But minors leaguers getting paid less than 12,000 is ok. I mean it’s not like they normally spend about 4 years down there. That being said your moral clock or what’s wrong in the MLB clock is screwed.
Very screwed!!!
While many players do get paid under the poverty line, many players get some sort of signing bonus, (while I realize that not all draft picks get sizable bonuses as low as a couple thousand dollars) they still get bonuses to get started out they also get food money too, while they have to probably work a second flexible hours job, they still get some benefits, not to mention a player gets pulled up on the 40 man they get a bonus also if they get called up whenever they make a solid 507k, which is more than Many people have made doing blue collar work
Yes sure all those things are true but let’s not pretend that meal money is much and that’s on road trip. It’s usually enough for McDonalds anTd maybe a little beer. They also have expense such as clubhouse attendee taxes, ent axes etc. that many don’t factor in. Beyond rookie ball they don’t get host families in most cases. So we are talking about expenses like rent and everything involved, especially if you are located in a big city. Many bonuses are not sizable at all. If you come out of college you still have to pay for whatever loans you have. They still also have their agent % once they hit the MLB. If they are lucky they make the 40 and make 80,000 or the prorated amount they are on it.
Sure if they because major leaguers for a majority of time they get paid more than most ever will. But with upwards of 10-11 years of team control at probably making close to poverty to min for most why would fans begrudge players for signing that 1 big contract.
This is one of the few deals theo wished he had never done… His winners are 8:1 more frequent than his ‘ugh’ deals, which explains the quality of his process
Good for Crawford and his agent at the time. He got what he could.. I suspect we fans are not as happy about his contract expiring as the Dodgers front office
David Ross: how can a .241 average be considered a solid season. Really? if he was hitting say 270-280 then yes but not .241
You have to look at the other part of the slash line. Batting average is the least important out of those 3 numbers in most people opinions nowadays. Ross is having a solid season. His OPS is 116 which is actually above average by a good amount
I would imagine that the Cubs would like Ross to return so the can explore dealing Montero. If Ross does decide to hang it up I would imagine that Montero would become the back up to Contreras.
Should be now what’s with Maddon who used to play the hot hand.Whats the Rtoldillieo I made that up didn’t want to cuss
Let him be an adviser like hank white.
Montero is stunting the growth of Wilson who was ranked higher and is better than Sanchez NNY. Ross should be are minor league catching Coach. The End plus with Schwaber and Contraras that’s the best Of/Catchers in the National League. Montero is finally riding a hot bat over 200 need to be traded this summer