Rich Hill: Oriole.

by Dr. J on Feb 2, 2009 6:44 PM EST Comment 36 comments

The Orioles could announce as early as tomorrow that they will acquire left-handed starter Rich Hill from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later, according to industry sources. One source cautioned that the deal is not yet complete, but the Orioles are hopeful that it will be by early this week.

I guess MacPhail was having second thoughts on letting Daniel Cabrera go, so he went and found the best Cabrera 2.0 he could.

(That said, there really seems to be no harm in this deal, and I think it's fine.)

UPDATE (zk): Per dkdc below, this is a done deal (ESPN). Brian Burres was DFA'd to make room for Hill.

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I have seen the new Daniel Cabrera and his name is Radhames Liz.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Feb 2, 2009 12:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Liz > Cabrera

by Michael18 on Feb 2, 2009 12:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

…but I haven’t really seen any evidence to support that. (Liz ~ 4.5 BB per 9 in the minors, 74 BB in 109 ML innings; Cabrera 89 BB in his first major league 147 innings, 5.2 BB per 9 in the minors). So big “advantage” to Liz for his minor league experience, slight advantage to DCab in their first taste.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Feb 2, 2009 12:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The difference between Hill and Cabrera

is that Hill had success and lost his command. Cabrera never had command.

Also, there’s something about Cabrera being a headcase, I don’t know.

by Dr Orpheus on Feb 2, 2009 12:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Version 2.0

implies that it worked better than 1.0 at some time, and fixed some of 1.0’s problems, but still has some bugs of its own.

by Dr. J on Feb 2, 2009 2:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

SNAP

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Feb 2, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The other difference is

BB/9 in the major leagues:
Hill: 3.7
Cabrera: 5.1

Hill has command issues, but not as bad as Danny. Also his BB/9 had dropped each year until last. I like the move a lot, and he has to be better than Liz or Trachsel.

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Feb 2, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This move

has way more upside than downside.

"...that our flag was still there...OOOOOO say does that star spangled..."

by sickuvitall on Feb 2, 2009 12:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yeah

Nice, low risk deal by MacPhail. If Hill sucks, then the Orioles will only give up a marginal prospect or maybe even cash. But if Hill find success, the O’s will probably have to part with a decent-to-good prospect. I like the structure of it all.

by UMterp08 on Feb 2, 2009 8:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Now we're sure this Hill guy isn't from Aruba, right? I mean, somebody checked and everything, right?

BTW, Rad will have to be terminally awful both in the FLA and through May to get OUT of our rotation. I’m not complaining. That’s just where we are at, people.

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Feb 2, 2009 1:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rad Liz is destined for the bullpen

If he makes it to the big club this year. He averaged <5 IP/GS last year

He needs to spend time at AAA and get his confidence back. Poor guy got brought up from AA and was expected to replace Bedard IIRC. That worked well.

ZAUN! ZAAAAAAAUN!

LeighTeixGloves: Baltimore... for cons I wrote "losers" and "no money." For the pros I wrote "you like Baltimore." So that's two cons and only one pro
TeixMeix: what did you write under New York's cons?
LeighTeixGloves: nothing, because I started wondering where I could get a pink sweater-cape with the NY logo on it
LeighTeixGloves: oh, wait, under "cons" I wrote "do you ever want to have sex with me again"
TeixMeix: /lowers head

by CoachOfEarl on Feb 2, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he was?

not my recollection.

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Feb 2, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well he was called up right about when Buhdard was shut down

And was posting similar numbers at Bowie, but I might be projecting the expectation.

ZAUN! ZAAAAAAAUN!

by CoachOfEarl on Feb 2, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bowie's bullpen

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Feb 2, 2009 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm confused.

Is Dr. J different than drj?

by Jonny Pops on Feb 2, 2009 2:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

No relation, either. I don’t really post/comment much, but since I saw something that hadn’t been posted here yet, I took the opportunity.

by Dr. J on Feb 2, 2009 2:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

whoopee do!

Rexx

by Rexx on Feb 2, 2009 9:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ultimate "buy-low" move

I think this is a great move for Baltimore – it’s a total ‘buy-low’ for a potential front-end starter. Check out my article for more info

http://www.examiner.com/x-1088-MLB-Examiner~y2009m2d2-Orioles-close-to-deal-for-Hill

Alex Brown
MLB Examiner

by AlexBrown on Feb 2, 2009 11:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The deal appears to be complete according to Bleed Cubbie Blue

They quote a press release that says that Rich Hill is now an Oriole, but they don’t provide a link to it. Here’s the post:

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/2/2/744471/it-s-official-rich-hill-to#comments

by PhilR8 on Feb 2, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Done Deal

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090202&content_id=3791162&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired LHP RICH HILL from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for a player to be named. LHP BRIAN BURRES was designated for assignment to make room for Hill on the 40-man roster.
Hill, 28, was selected by the Cubs in the 4th round of the 2002 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Michigan. He set career highs in 2007 with 11 victories, 32 starts, 195.0 innings pitched, 183 strikeouts (5th in the NL) and a 1.195 WHIP (8th in the NL).

In 2006, Hill was a Pacific Coast League All-Star and named to the Topps/Minor League Baseball Triple-A All Star team after the season. He was named the Cubs’ 5th best prospect by Baseball America that year.

Hill broke camp with the Cubs in 2008, but battled a back injury and spent a majority of the season in the minor leagues. He went 1-0 in 5 starts with the Cubs and 4-7 in 13 total starts with rookie-level Mesa (3), Single-A Daytona (3) and Triple-A Iowa (7).

Burres, 27, went 7-10 with a 6.04 ERA in 31 games (22 starts) with the Orioles in 2008

by dkdc on Feb 2, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, Rich Hill instead of Brian Burres definitely feels like an upgrade, disappointing to see Hill is already 28 though. At least we won’t have to hear anything more about Burres “stepping it up”

by math_geek on Feb 2, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

somewhere, Jim Palmer is crying just a little bit

by PhilR8 on Feb 2, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hill at 28

We are at the point where we can afford to give 28 year old disappointments a chance because its better than giving 35 year old innings eaters a chance IMO.

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Feb 2, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

It is almost universally recognized that the Orioles are a team that is able to give Hill-type pitchers a flyer (read: the Orioles are not in danger of competing this year) and hope for the best. The Cubs, on the other hand, have a ton of pressure to live up to their own hype and don’t have time to let Hill work out his issues.

A situation like this makes rebuilding – done the right way – fun and interesting. C’mon Hill, put it back together!

by PhilR8 on Feb 2, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Possibility?

Any possibility the Tigers find themselves with ample starting pitching with Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galarraga, Edwin Jackson, Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis, Zach Miner and decide that they would like to have a 2B at the end of spring training? There are a couple of those guys that would help out. I like Edwin Jackson although I know he hasn’t exactly been great. Galarraga showed some flashes and is young. I don’t know if the upgrade over polanco would even be worth it to them. Guess you could try to pawn off Audrey or Scott on them as well. It looks like they will be starting carlos guillen in LF.

I don’t know…just a thought. If a couple of those guys bounce back they are going to have to move someone.

Always trust your cape. -Guy Clark

by BPinOK on Feb 2, 2009 1:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tigers

The Tigers are not feeling at all overburdened with pitching options right now. Verlander and Robertson both imploded last year, Willis showed that ‘07 was no fluke, and Bonderman had shoulder trouble that cost him the season. Galarraga was the one bright side, so there’s no way they’re shipping him out. I kinda like Jackson too- he always seems just on the verge of getting it together- but obviously they brought him in because they’re in the same miserable straits that we are as far as pitching.

by BaltimoreAN on Feb 2, 2009 10:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Disturbing thought

Rich Hill = Damian Moss?

Game Over T-shirts: http://www.cafepress.com/beltwaysports

by CStoneNo37 on Feb 2, 2009 1:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No

Just compare their K/9 and BB/9. Hill strikes out far more batters than Moss ever did and his BB/9 is slightly better. Although they are both lefties with control issues.

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Feb 2, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Burres?

Say it isn’t so!

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Feb 2, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

he can still compete for a job

I think he signed a split contract

by sanders833 on Feb 2, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember he mopped the floor with the Rangers at the beginning of the season.

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Feb 2, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm...

while i still would’ve liked to see a legit play made for dunn and sheets, i’m pretty pleased w/ this offseason on the whole. i mean, i think there are probably a lot fo other dudes out there like hill and pie that have maybe played out the string in their curent orgs and can be had for nothing, but, yeah, i think these are the moves you need to make to help bolster your core.

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Feb 2, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

couple of names I still like

Apparently Jeff Neimann on Tampa is outta options and Chase Wright was optioned. Quite frankly, given all the arms Tampa has signed Neimann is going to be traded soon.

Wolf still looks LA bound (LA rotation is Billingsley, Kuroda, Kapshaw, Jason McDonald, Scott Elbett?? or Jason Schmidt at the moment). Wolf would fit in well here.

Milwaukee claims they are done spending (leaves Sheets and Looper out)
Cardinals-??
Texas and Balt seem like they could have almost anyone they want at the moment—

Dunn and Abreu seem like a holding pattern until Manny signs….I think Dunn is in DC if Manny goes to LA-maybe just a one year deal. Abreu could go to the Angels if Vlad stays in right. Seattle says they have interest….

Orlando Hudson isnt even drawing a bone…

I have to believe Sheets medical reports must be pretty bad because as badly as teams need legit number ones no one is stepping up. I wonder if Houston might go kick his tires one more time if it only takes say $5 million.

I wouldnt mind looking again and dont mind paying market (apparently 12 mill if Oliver Perez is any indication) but only one year base, years two and three on hitting benchmarks. If we were serious about AJ Burnett then we have to step back and look at Sheets right now. But I think Sheets want two years guaranteed.so he is as nervous about his arm as everyone else apparently.

by sanders833 on Feb 2, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs