It seems that the day Rich Hill is traded by the Oakland Athletics is getting closer, with his next start possibly being the last. Turns out the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers scouts will be in attendance to deliver possibly a final verdict.
The 36-year old has surprisingly turned into one of the hottest names before the trade deadline, building on his four-start run with the Red Sox last season to turn in an Ace-like season with the A’s. He’s9-3 through 13 starts with a 2.25 ERA, recently coming back from injury, not showing that it has affected him. He’s striking out 10.7 batters per nine innings while striking out 3.27 batters per walk. Over the last 105 innings, he has an impressive 2.06 ERA including his Red Sox stint. Hill is actually hoping the A’s move him to Boston.
The price Oakland will be asking for is quite high. Their trade with the Houston Astros last season, sending Scott Kazmir to Texas, gave them two prospects in Daniel Mengden and Jacob Nottingham. The A’s aren’t in a rush to trade Hill, who is a free agent at the end of the season, and Oakland can tender him a qualifying offer which should be worth around $17 million. But that’s a lot of money for Oakland, especially when there’s Josh Reddick in a similar situation, with extension talks between the sides not going well.
Danny Valencia is another player “contending” for being designated, but unlike Reddick and Hill, there isn’t a lot of trade deadline chatter regarding his services, even if he’s having a fantastic season. If anyone is going to be moved, Hill is the most likely one, but the A’s, as mentioned, aren’t in a 100% sell kind of mode, so the end result could be Hill staying and someone else going.