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Yankees Rumors: New York In Hot Pursuit Of Rich Hill

By Kenneth Teape

Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Yankees Rumors: The Yankees are among one of about six teams that are going aggressively pursuing free agent Rich Hill.

New York Yankees rumors have begun to pick up in recent days. The MLB Hot Stove is heating up and the Yankees are looking to take part in free agency. The first big domino fell with Yoenis Cespedes re-signing with the New York Mets. With the first hitter off the market the other players should see their markets begin to heat up.

That is a market that the Yankees could find themselves in. Cespedes was reportedly not in their spending plans, but Carlos Beltran and Edwin Encarnacion are still two players they will look at. Another player they look to be narrowing in on is starting pitcher Rich Hill.

The Yankees were connected to Hill earlier in the offseason and are now in hot pursuit of him according to Jim Bowden of ESPN. The Yankees are not alone in wanting Hill, as the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, and Houston Astros are all reportedly in pursuit of him. Bowden mentions the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox could also be in the mix for the veteran lefty.

Those are the regular heavy hitters we see pursuing free agents. Hill makes for a great target as he is not tied to a draft pick and will upgrade virtually any rotation that he joins. Hill is arguably the best starting pitcher on the market this offseason in a very weak class.

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Hill is projected to land a three-year deal worth about $45 million. That price could drive up with the contenders after him, but the years will probably stay the same. At 38-years old, three years is pushing it for Hill.

Hill has been very productive in recent seasons but has struggled with injuries. He made only 20 starts in 2016, mostly because of a blister. But, they were very productive starts. He finished the season with a 2.12 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 110.1 innings pitched. He went 12-5, making 14 starts for the Oakland Athletics and six for the Los Angeles Dodgers after they acquired him at the trading deadline.

He would make three starts with the Dodgers in the postseason, throwing 13 innings with a 3.46 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 19 strikeouts. Every team going after Hill hopes that he will be making postseason starts for them in 2017.

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For the Yankees, Hill would slot in right near the top of their rotation behind Masahiro Tanaka. He would provide a much-needed upgrade and join C.C. Sabathia, Michael Pineda, and presumably Luis Severino. Bryan Mitchell could also factor into the rotation mix, but adding someone such as Hill would be a good addition for a Yankees team in transition but still looking to contend.

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