In No Way, Shape or Form is Rich Hill Worth $16 Million Annually

The New York Yankees dodged an absolute huge bullet this offseason. I’m not kidding, the team should send the Los Angeles Dodgers a “Thank You” card from the organization and the fans after the team signed Rich Hill, a left-handed starting pitcher the Yankees were said to be interested in this offseason, to a three-year deal worth $48 million. I’m sorry but as the title of this blog states there is no way, shape or form where Rich Hill is worth an AAV of $16 million annually. No way. Here’s why.

First and foremost Rich Hill is 36-years old which does not fit into the Yankees current youth movement and nor does a $16 million AAV fit into New York’s sudden plan for austerity again. Hill has battled injuries throughout much of his career, some major some minor of course, and you have to think despite his last couple of seasons that he is going to become more injury prone as he ages, not less injury prone. Hill has had a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder in 2009 and even has elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2011 causing him to miss some time and he even potentially missed out on a perfect game in September of this past season due to a groin injury and blisters on his throwing hand.

If the Yankees had given such an “old” and injury prone type pitcher that kind of deal the media and fans would be going head over heels bonkers right now. When it happens in a town like Los Angeles though it’s celebrated, I don’t get it. Hill pitched great last season, he went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA for the Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics, but he was only able to make 20 starts all season. That’s almost a million dollars a start in a game where pitching is at an all-time high of importance. I understand the flow of money in the game is insane right now but this deal is just foolish for a soon-to-be 37-year old arm with a history of arm trouble.

New York dodged a serious bullet here in my opinion and by the time this three-year contract ends, and this is pure speculation on my part, I think the Dodgers would have traded Hill away or begun to truly regret the deal they just gave the southpaw and former Independent League pitcher. Just a hunch, stay tuned to find out if I’m right. We’ll still be here.