Orioles looking at Rich Hill; deal coming this week?

[ThomasTomasz]

The Orioles and Chicago Cubs are again involved in trade talks, this time about Cubs left-handed starting pitcher Rich Hill. According to industry sources, the teams have had talks about Hill, a one-time top prospect who is struggling to regain his command.

One industry source said it's a "strong possibility" that Hill will wind up with the Orioles, perhaps as early as next week. The Orioles will likely give up a player to be named, who could be contingent on Hill's success in Baltimore.

"We are talking to them," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said about the Cubs. "We are talking to a lot of teams about a lot of players."

Hill is out of options and unlikely to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster, so they are looking to deal him and give the pitcher a change of scenery.

The Cubs have spoken to several teams about Hill, including the Seattle Mariners, but a source said the Orioles are in the lead to land the lefty. The Orioles would have to shuffle their 40-man roster, which is full.

Hill, a fourth-round draft pick out of the University of Michigan in 2002, was long considered one of the Cubs' best young players. In 2006, Baseball America had him rated as the fifth-best prospect and third-best pitcher in the Cubs' system.

The next year, Hill, 28, had a breakout season for the Cubs, starting 32 games and going 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 195 innings. He was fifth in the National League in strikeouts with 183 and eighth with a 1.195WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched).

He looked like he would be a mainstay in the Cubs' rotation and was considered untouchable when the Orioles asked about him in trade negotiations involving second baseman Brian Roberts.

But 2008 was a disaster for Hill, who battled back spasms and inexplicable wildness all season. The Cubs demoted Hill to the minors in May after he went 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA in five starts. He walked 18batters in 19 2/3 innings and at times seemed incapable of throwing strikes.

He didn't fare much better in the minors, walking 44 batters in 47 2/3 innings in 13 starts at three levels. Trying to regain his command, Hill pitched in the Venezuelan League this winter but walked 23batters and gave up 21 hits in 21 innings.

Orioles, Cubs in trade talks about pitcher Hill -- baltimoresun.com

Seems like the Orioles want to take advantage of the Cubs when it comes to their younger players who are struggling. First Pie, now Hill, who were thought of as cornerstones of the Cubs just a few years back.

It's tough to break in on a team that is competing. The player does not get much of a chance when they are struggling to work through it. With a team that is rebuilding, like the Orioles, the player gets that chance.

That's why I think Pie will work out for the Orioles, and why Hill could work as well. He's a big left-hander, and, although he is 28, Hill will get a chance with the Orioles to work through his mistakes, and will have a good pitching coach in Rick Kranitz to work with him.

For only a PTBNL, I say, "why not?"

[realmofotalk]

With Andy MacPhail running the team, you can expect him to try to bring in as many of his former team's players whom he valued. After his breakout 2007 season, Rich Hill had his chance to keep his spot in the rotation, but he didn't follow up to it. Alas, he's no worse of an option than Garrett Olson was.

[catman]

I've seen Rich Hill pitch a few times and he has nothing left to prove at the AAA level. He will either make it or not at the major league level as a starter. The Cubs really don't have a spot for him right now, so a move to the Orioles might not be a bad idea.
The Orioles have some talent in their farm system and the Cubs have the luxury of having a pretty deep major league roster. They can afford to bring prospects along slowly.

[love_that_reefer]

M's could be looking at Hill too.

[love_that_reefer]

Orioles acquired LHP Rich Hill from the Cubs in exchange for a player to be named later.
Like Felix Pie and Ronny Cedeno before him, Hill was traded at a discount by the Cubs because he was out of minor league options. The quality of player to be named later will likely depend upon how well Hill fares in Baltimore after struggling with his control last season. If the Orioles can get him back to throwing strikes, Hill can be a solid No. 3 starter and nice sleeper target in AL-only leagues.

Good move by the O's but sadly they still play in the AL East and Hill will likely get rocked. Hill gives the O's a lefty to go along with mark Hendrickson so the O's have better balance. That is if Hendrickson makes the rotation which he is better off with a bullpen role. The O's have made some good low profile moves with acquiring Ryan Freel, Koji Uehara and now Hill. I think Freel is the best offseason move the O's have made. To make room for Hill, the O's designated Brian Burres for assignment.

[catman]

Hill gets a chance to show what he can do in the bigs. I've seen him pitch a few times and like his stuff. The Orioles should be happy with him.