Rich Hill

[Benihana]

I was shocked to learn that the Cubs sent Hill down to the minors today because of his control problems. He was supposed to be the Cubs #2 starter this year. He's a young lefty workhorse with some decent success (ERA < 4.00 over the last two seasons) at the ML level. He's also a big strikeout guy with one of the best curveballs in the league. Originally a Reds draftee out of high school, I would love to try and buy low on this guy. Granted, the Cubs may not be interested in selling low (and selling low on Hill would still net a decent return) but I'd see if I could pry him loose.

There have been rumblings of Jr. rumors here in Chicago despite their lack of a need for an OF. I'd dangle Jr. and toss in some sweeteners (Francisco/Maloney?) to see if it would pique their interest.

If they have no interest in Jr., I'd float the idea of an Arroyo/Hill swap. They'd get a guy who could step into their playoff-ready rotation and we'd get younger, cheaper, and left-handed. Bronson's contract certainly wouldn't be an issue for the Cubs.

Finally if all else fails, maybe he would even be a candidate for an Adam Dunn swap if the Reds decide not to re-sign Dunn. Dunn's always hit well in Wrigley, and as long as the Cubs would be willing to slide Soriano back over to CF and put up with a horrible OF defense, it could be worth a shot. I'd rather keep Dunn, but I'd love to move him for Hill and then make a run at Teixeira.

Regardless, I think Hill is someone we should be targeting. Imagine this rotation for the next four years:

Harang
Volquez
Hill
Cueto
Bailey/Thompson

What do you think- what would it take?

[Benihana]

Alex Gonzalez strikes me as a guy the Cubs may have use for as well. I'd dangle him as a sweetener for any of these deals as well.

[reds44]

I'm not trading anymore offense on this team for pitching right now, especially for Rich Hill, who I think very little of. I think it's very little Maloney will end up being just as good or better than Hill. Hill's got 2 pitches, and he hasn't been getting his curve over this year. He's already 28 years old so he isn't even young anymore.

When we deal Dunn, we need to get a bat in return.

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by reds44

I'm not trading anymore offense on this team for pitching right now, especially for Rich Hill, who I think very little of.

When we deal Dunn, we need to get a bat in return.

Sign Teixeira. I may put it in my signature soon.

And FWIW, Dunn would be the last option when talking about a deal for Rich Hill. I'd try to sell them on Jr. first and Arroyo second.

[reds44]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Sign Teixeira. I may put it in my signature soon.

And FWIW, Dunn would be the last option when talking about a deal for Rich Hill. I'd try to sell them on Jr. first and Arroyo second.

I don't even know if I'd do Bronson for Hill, and if I would it would be because of BA's contract alone. If you sign Teixeira you are going to move Votto from 1B where he is a + athlete, to LF where he is neutral at best and as he gets older will quickly become -, and you lock yourself in with EE at 3rd.

I don't think, nor do I really want, the Reds to poney up the kind of cash Mark is going to get on the open market either.

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by reds44

I don't even know if I'd do Bronson for Hill, and if I would it would be because of BA's contract alone. If you sign Teixeira you are going to move Votto from 1B where he is a + athlete, to LF where he is neutral at best and as he gets older will quickly become -, and you lock yourself in with EE at 1st.

I don't think, nor do I really want, the Reds to poney up the kind of cash Mark is going to get on the open market either.

Well I would definitely trade Arroyo for Hill, no question about it. Hill has much better stuff, is younger, cheaper, and left handed. He would give the Reds a tremendous amount of payflex to sign someone like Texeira, and will only get better while Arroyo will only get worse. Gee, let me think about that one...

I'd much rather have Votto in LF and Teixeira at 1B than Dunn in LF and Votto in 1B. Matt Kemp is not going to be traded. So let me ask you, who would you be targeting?

[reds44]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Well I would definitely trade Arroyo for Hill, no question about it. Hill has much better stuff, is younger, cheaper, and left handed. He would give the Reds a tremendous amount of payflex to sign someone like Texeira, and will only get better while Arroyo will only get worse. Gee, let me think about that one...

I'd much rather have Votto in LF and Teixeira at 1B than Dunn in LF and Votto in 1B. Matt Kemp is not going to be traded. So let me ask you, who would you be targeting?

Rich Hill does not have better stuff than Bronson Arroyo. No way. It's not even close. Hill might be "younger" but only by three years and he definatley isn't "young." Like I said if I was going to trade Arroyo for Hill it would only because of Bronson's contract.

I have absolutely no idea what market there is going to be for Griffey or Dunn, so it's hard for me to say who I would be targeting. I just don't think I want to see the Reds lock up 20% of their payroll on one player. There are too many variables that can go bad.

[cincinnati chili]

I'd trade almost any player in the Reds organization for Rich Hill. I don't blame the Cubs for sending him down for a while to straighten out his release point, but let's put things in perspective.

The guy is being sent down with a 4.12 ERA.

I wish that Reds starters who got off to BAD starts, would exhibit that level of failure.

He's been dominant for a year and a half and he's only 28. He's better than any pitcher the Reds have developed since the 1980s (since Tom Browning).

No I'm not exaggerating.

[Topcat]

hill has hit a speed bump and I truly believe the Cubs will not trade him at this time. All he needs is some time to get on track, sad for us but probably an accurate assessment.

[GAC]

ATL will offer Mark a LTC at some point in the season.

[fearofpopvol1]

Originally Posted by GAC

ATL will offer Mark a LTC at some point in the season.

Doubtful he'll accept, espcially with Boras as his agent.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by fearofpopvol1

Doubtful he'll accept, espcially with Boras as his agent.

(I quoted ya but this isn't directed at you but rather just a little rant before morning coffee)

Well the Reds should be planning to spend market rates long term at first base so they can move their cheap first baseman (whom they control for another half decade) to left because, well, left field and first base are the two hardest positions in baseball to find guys who can play there....

/end of rant

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by jojo

(I quoted ya but this isn't directed at you but rather just a little rant before morning coffee)

Well the Reds should be planning to spend market rates long term at first base so they can move their cheap first baseman (whom they control for another half decade) to left because, well, left field and first base are the two hardest positions in baseball to find guys who can play there....

/end of rant

I can definitely see the argument against making a run at Teixeira, but let me ask you this: Exactly what positions would the Reds have to fill over the next half decade? CF and C would be the only two positions that we wouldn't have completely locked up over that time-span, and it is clear with this lineup construction that the Reds would be looking for defense-first guys at each position, which are not that hard to find at all. So I ask you again, what (and who) exactly would you need all the extra payflex for?

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Benihana

I can definitely see the argument against making a run at Teixeira, but let me ask you this: Exactly what positions would the Reds have to fill over the next half decade? CF and C would be the only two positions that we wouldn't have completely locked up over that time-span, and it is clear with this lineup construction that the Reds would be looking for defense-first guys at each position, which are not that hard to find at all. So I ask you again, what (and who) exactly would you need all the extra payflex for?

Who said anything about payflex? Efficiency and intelligence aren't "payflex" and frankly shouldn't be dismissed as pejoratives.

So I ask you again, when did paying more than is necessary become a sign of a well run franchise?

[*BaseClogger*]

Yeah, Hill's got great stuff. But he's not available (except on my fantasy team! ...

Originally Posted by jojo

(I quoted ya but this isn't directed at you but rather just a little rant before morning coffee)

Well the Reds should be planning to spend market rates long term at first base so they can move their cheap first baseman (whom they control for another half decade) to left because, well, left field and first base are the two hardest positions in baseball to find guys who can play there....

/end of rant

I laughed.