Rich Hill?

by maurerdj on Jan 29, 2009 12:37 PM EST

Bruce Levin reported that the Cubs are weighing offers for Rich Hill. Undoubtly a buy low trade opportunity, I was wondering what people here thought of us attempting to acquire him.

Positives

1. Won't cost much, Hill is pretty much at his lowest value

2. Had good seasons in 2006 and 2007

3. The new Busch seems to depress HR, which may offset his high FB rate.

4. Control orientated pitchers seem do work well with Duncan.

5. Projected Chrone FIP of 4.4, which is better than Looper, Pineiro and Wolf

Negatives

1. Averaged BB/9 of over 8 across the minors and majors in 2008.

2. Our outfield defense isn't all that great. Schumaker and Ludwick are about average, Duncan and Ankiel are below average.

3. Unpredicabiltiy, Looper is more likely to give 25+ starts at leage average. Hill has a good possibility of being terrible.

I think its at least worth looking into, what do you guys think?

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Hill is worth looking in to,

as much as Daniel Cabrera, Scott Olsen, and Jon Garland are worth looking into. These are pitchers who would have to bouce back to be anything close to an improvement over our current options, but if they come cheaply enough, they’re definitely possibilities for the rotation. As yet, none of them has come quite cheaply enough (2.6 Million for the non-tendered Cabrera, for instance).

Rich Hill is putting up pitching lines that look like vintage Rick Ankiel, and to say his value is at its lowest is almost to understate how far he has fallen considering how promising he looked near the top of the cubs rotation last season. On the other hand, it’s likely that the cubs still hold out hope for a return to form, and the lottery ticket that he is is one they themselves plan on scratching. It seems doubtful that Hill is a trade possibility for as cheap as he would need to be.

Space.

It's a problem we face.

So we never go anywhere.

We just stay in one place.

by hazel on Jan 29, 2009 1:01 PM EST reply actions

Ankiel's D

by scottiet05 on Jan 29, 2009 1:08 PM EST reply actions

is not below average

by scottiet05 on Jan 29, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

+1

I saw him develop his outfield skills in both center and right in Memphis. I was surprised how well he did. He can make accurate throws from the outfield. If he can ever get his strikeouts down as a hitter, he would really be dangerous.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 29, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

Actually

it is. Besides having a few Edmond’s type catches in center and the gun he showed off at Coors, he is nothing to ride home about. His numbers did get dragged down late in the year while trying to play hurt, but he was still at -6.8 UZR while playing in CF. And he only played there while he was healthy.

I would rate Ludwick, Schumaker, Mather, and Barton all ahead of Ankiel. Rasmus will be a + defender as well. About the only OF Rick is better than on the team is Duncan.

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...Oh yeah, and by the way....BEN SHEETS!!!!!

by RunninRedbird on Jan 29, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

The OF defense looks pretty good, especially if Rasmus plays center and Ankiel and Mather play left.

vivaelbensheets

by vivaelpujols on Jan 29, 2009 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

Isn't the

saying, “nothing to write home about?” But “ride home” is pretty funny. It conjures an image of a cowboy, riding home to tell everyone about Rick Ankiel.

BEN F*&*ING SHEETS!

by spants on Jan 29, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

It probably is "write"

My grandmother used to always say “ride”, or at least it sounded like she said “ride”. I wonder if she knew a cowboy……?

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...Oh yeah, and by the way....BEN SHEETS!!!!!

by RunninRedbird on Jan 30, 2009 8:20 AM EST up reply actions

Cubs Need Lefty Pen Help

Neal Cotts is the only southpaw the Cubs know will be in the pen right now. Sean Marshall could be in the starting rotation. That remains to be seen. If the Cubs were to trade Hill, I would think they would want a LHP reliever in return. I don’t see Charlie Manning as appetizing trade bait for the Cards. I don’t think St. Louis wants to part with Jaime Garcia. Trever Miller is a little up there in age. Royce Ring isn’t that wonderful a pitcher. I don’t think the Cubs will trade Hill to the Cards.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 29, 2009 2:03 PM EST reply actions

garcia is out from tj this year

and you are right, the cards probably don’t want to part with him.

How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor

by themanthemyth on Jan 30, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Garcia

He’s still young. He could very well come back from the Tommy John surgery as a better pitcher. We’ll have to wait and see. There’s no sense from a Cardinals point of view to let go of him now.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 30, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

More good discussion of this in the Hot Stove Post.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Jan 29, 2009 2:10 PM EST reply actions

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't happen

Basically because the Cubs and the Cards are in the same division. That will likely drive up the price to get him.

by Taskmaster on Jan 29, 2009 2:51 PM EST reply actions

Much as I want to think this is worth considering

There’s just no way the Cubs are going to give a starting pitcher with that much upside to the Cards. It would be lunacy on a level that even Jim Hendry cannot achieve.

by mojowo11 on Jan 29, 2009 7:30 PM EST reply actions

Peavy

The Cubs are looking to round up prospects to acquire Peavy. Perhaps this is why they are shopping Hill. So if we gave up prospects to acquire Hill, we might unwittingly aid the Cubs in landing Peavy. Just a thought.

by jjray on Jan 29, 2009 7:51 PM EST reply actions

Also, Hot Stoved!

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jan 29, 2009 8:18 PM EST reply actions

Crap, Hot Stove Police

Sorry, just kidding man :)

Im surprised that Hill wouldn’t be part of the deal for Peavy, he’s a pitching prospect for the Padres at least. However, I think that any trade for Peavy will be done Midseason, kind of like for Sabathia. Maybe it will be us, I hope it is, but it won’t happen right now.

by Taskmaster on Jan 29, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions

Hill isn't a "prospect"

He’s a reclamation project. He’s completely out of options and has 4 years of service time. He’s 28 years old.

If you go after him you’re looking at him turning it around within the next year so you can make a case for trading him or signing him long term before he becomes a free agent. I don’t think that San Diego would be interested in Hill as more than a throw in player.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Jan 30, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions