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In so many ways, 2020 feels like a lifetime ago. Those memories have become distant: The explosion of the COVID-19 pandemic, the delayed start to an abbreviated MLB season, the strange dynamics of playing a limited regional schedule in empty ballparks. Generally speaking, it's a period most of us would like to forget.
But one fun element of that Twins season was the presence of Rich Hill, a veteran left-hander who was joining his eighth team at age 40, looking to reinforce a team coming off a 100-win season with championship aspirations. Even then, Hill needed to be managed carefully, struggling to stay healthy and throwing only 38 innings as a Twin. Still, he was useful, posting a 3.03 ERA for the repeat division winners.
It was a good show, watching him craftily navigate big-league lineups with an upper-80s fastball thanks to command, grit, and his trademark curve. Hill would grunt with effort and shout with competitive emotion on the mound. He was valued in the clubhouse and liked by his teammates.
These qualities have helped Hill stick around for three more seasons since, accumulating 430 innings from 2021 through 2023 for the Rays, Mets, Red Sox, Padres and Pirates. He's been a mercenary, rotating through different pitching staffs at a dizzying pace. Now, Hill is looking for one last job, and he wants to make it count.
Could a return to the Twins be the perfect fit for both sides?
Hill signaled to teams ahead of the season that he intended to sit out the first half. As Steve Adams explains at MLB Trade Rumors:
Quote"Waiting until later in the season affords MLB’s elder statesmen some perks beyond potentially keeping him fresh. Most importantly, Hill has spoken on record before about the additional time he was able to spend with his family, coaching his son’s team. Signing in August also ensures that he’s able to land with a club that has a good shot at making the postseason."
The time has come. Hill hosted a showcase for scouts last week, in hopes of demonstrating his readiness. Afterward, Dan Hayes of The Athletic tweeted that the Twins "are in contact" with Hill and his representatives. It's a logical inquiry given not only Minnesota's history with the veteran, but also their increasingly dire need for starting pitching depth.
Joe Ryan is likely out for the season after suffering a muscle strain in his shoulder. Chris Paddack remains sidelined indefinitely, and seems tough to count on going forward as a rotation member. The Twins currently find themselves depending on an exorbitant number of rookies and young arms, starting Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa, Zebby Matthews and Louie Varland in the span of five crucial games against division rivals.
Relying on a rotation with little collective experience in crunch time is a perilous thing, and the situation is even more dicey when you consider the ramifications of even one more injury to a starter. As a byproduct of their inactivity at the trade deadline, the Twins have as great a need for a pitcher like Hill as any contender in the league.
And they are a bona fide contender, meaning Minnesota fits Hill's chief criterion. He wants to throw meaningful innings during what may be his last hurrah. He'd certainly have that opportunity for a Twins team that is in the thick of a tight, three-team division race, currently possessing the second Wild Card spot in the American League.
So, should the Twins make a push for Hill? I can't see why not. It's important to keep expectations in check – we're talking about a 44-year-old who, even back in 2020, was far from dominant. Since then, he has a 4.51 ERA and 4.40 FIP. Last year, he was downright bad, posting an 81 ERA+ with his worst WHIP in over a decade.
But it bears noting that Hill was vastly better in the first half (4.45 ERA in 16 starts through June) than the second (6.91 ERA in 16 starts after June), as fatigue evidently set in. The first number might not wow you, but it'd be just fine for the Twins' needs, especially since Hill completed five or more innings in 14 of those 16 first-half starts.
Theoretically, 10 months of downtime and a four- or five-week season could help Hill maximize whatever he's got left. If he can give the Twins even a handful of starts at something approximating league-average effectiveness, it'd go a long way toward relieving the burden on Minnesota's rookie starters and beleaguered bullpen.
I say: why the heck not? What are your thoughts: Should the Twins get aggressive in their pursuit of the grizzled veteran lefty? Or would you prefer to stick with the in-house options?
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- Dman, Hrbeks Divot and DannySD
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