Rich Hill deadline approaching

by tim815 on Jul 29, 2009 7:19 AM CDT

Since trades involving a Player to be Named Later have to be concluded in six months, the clock is ticking on who the Cubs will get for the lefthanded starter the Cubs dealt to Baltimore on February 2nd, 2009. The last I heard, Hill was trying to decide whether he was injured enough to go on the DL. At the same time, the Orioles were contemplating designating Rich for assignment.

I've heard discusiions that the quality of the PTBNL would be determined by Hill's performance. He hasn't been effective (hence the DFA talk), but he has gotten Baltimore some wins. Any such agreement, though, should still be completed by August 2nd, as I understand.

It would be nice to add some more quality to the pipeline for him.

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PTBNL???

Seeing how Rich Hill is still wretched I’d say the PTBNL will be the equivalent value of a used set of jumper cables.

Cubs will win 79 to 83 games. Season has been over for weeks. St. Louis will eventually run away with this division. And you can print it. BLou (7/21/09)

by BLou on Jul 29, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions

Jumper cables can be useful even if used.

A low-level pitching prospect will be just fine.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 29, 2009 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Translation

Organizational guy.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Jul 29, 2009 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Probably so, yes.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 29, 2009 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Likely will be cash

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 29, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I doubt it

Cash has value.

by rlpete on Jul 29, 2009 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Based on Hill's performance

it probably doesn’t matter who we get. I don’t think we’ll get anyone to fill the “pipeline”.

by rlpete on Jul 29, 2009 8:21 AM CDT reply actions

Here's an article on Rich Hill...

…that made the rounds on Twitter earlier this week (thanks to Harry Pavlidis).

LINKY

In short, the formerly filthy Rich is complaining of shoulder trouble and has had horrible numbers. So don’t expect much in return for him. I like nji232’s idea: Tell the O’s to keep their minor league roster filler and, instead, force them to TAKE Aaron Miles (and his salary) off our hands.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 29, 2009 8:40 AM CDT reply actions

Nah...

Just have them send us back Cesar Izturis or Freddy Boom Boom Bynum so Jim Hendry can fulfill his master plan of acquiring every single craptacular smurf middle infielder on the planet.

Cubs will win 79 to 83 games. Season has been over for weeks. St. Louis will eventually run away with this division. And you can print it. BLou (7/21/09)

by BLou on Jul 29, 2009 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I would not be overly surprised if Rich Hill is the PTBNL

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 29, 2009 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

so we could designate him for assignment?

i’d rather take cash than a player that will be of no use to us. maybe an outfielder or a first baseman. but we have enough middle infielders and pitchers in the system to take on a player that is too old for his level. or has a craptastic statline.

take the cash and hire a scout.

by tim815 on Jul 29, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Now that's not a bad idea!

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 29, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions

or take cash from

Oakland (Wuertz) and KC (Freel) at the same time and throw it at our (yet unsigned) sixth round draft pick. Or hire two scouts, one of which goes to games not involving LSU.

by tim815 on Jul 29, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions

I always thought ...

that Hill could be a pretty good LOOGY. He’s a K guy, at time great off speed stuff. It is almost like his early brief sucess as a starter pushed him away from what he would be better suited for.

by BatCubFan on Jul 29, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Well then....

… take him back and send him to Iowa to work on that.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 29, 2009 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions

i thought he was out of options

by tim815 on Jul 29, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions

He could be outrighted.

Doubt anyone would claim him on waivers.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 29, 2009 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions

He'd still have to spot his fastball and get his curve over to be a successful LOOGY.

Rich continues to walk too many guys.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 29, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

And just think

when the Brian Roberts trade chatter began, Hill and Felix Pie would have gotten him.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 29, 2009 8:49 AM CDT reply actions

That could've turned out to be the best Hendry deal since Aramis.

Ah well.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 29, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Well

One could definitely see a different scenario where Pie was traded before the disastrous attempt to change his entire batting approach at the ML level and in that Baltimore secnario, Pie would have turned into a player very similar to Jacque Jones – very flawed, but not without value when cost-controlled.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 29, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, interestingly enough...

…Felix hasn’t done too bad in limited/scattered appearances over the last two months. Since June 2, he’s put up a .345/.387/.483 (.870 OPS) line, though that’s a pretty small sample of only 31 PAs.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 29, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Believe me, I'm watching.

And rooting for the kid to make it.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 29, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Hey, and if we'd only added Mark Prior

we could have had Erik Bedard, too.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 29, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

DFA Hill

I’d be surprised if Baltimore DFA’d Hill. We’ll probably get a low-level prospect back.

Were it not for Hill’s possible shoulder problems, I’d take him back for a relief role.

by AboutTheCubs on Jul 29, 2009 10:58 AM CDT reply actions

Very Interesting point

A couple of years ago Felix Pie and Rich Hill were two of the Most Highly regarded prospects in baseball, now, they are blahhh. With all the trade talk going on I have been of the opinion you have to keep those Top prospects, can’t trade them for the win now big name pitcher. Just think where we would have been two years ago with Brian Roberts leading off and Hill and Pie playing for Baltimore. Very tough decisions to be made about these prospects. Another thought, think of the guys who have been helped the cubs so much this year from the farm, none of them (maybe samardzija) have ever really been a highly touted prospect from Baseball America. Just goes to show those rankings are about as correct as a pre-season CFB poll or pre-season All-America rankings.

Hey, Hey! Hey, Hey! Hey, Hey!

by TheCubsGuy on Jul 29, 2009 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

I always think of Pokey Reese

Jim Bowden insisted that Reese was untradable when he was a prospect, instead of trading him nearly straight-up for Junior Griffey. Instead, they had to give up Mike Cameron, who would have looked pretty good in CF while moving Junior to RF.

It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??

by Invalid User on Jul 29, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Another thought

Wouldn’t they just send Hill back to us? Not that I want him, but with his performance and injury how could a PTBNL ever be decided upon?

Hey, Hey! Hey, Hey! Hey, Hey!

by TheCubsGuy on Jul 29, 2009 11:04 AM CDT reply actions

I suspect

that the Cubs have a list from Baltimore and that players are sloted based on Rich’s performance.

"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb

by TheRiot Police on Jul 29, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

i wonder who is slotted

under “unmitigated disaster”?

by circuitclout on Jul 29, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions

are disasters

ever referenced as ‘mitigated’?

by tim815 on Jul 29, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

5 bucks it's Billy Rowell.

Randy Wells. A product of the Roy Halladay School of Pitching, located in Toronto, Canada. Possible relocation.

by Cub Style on Jul 29, 2009 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

he hasn't

lived up to his selection slot. can’t get out of High A ball. Sounds like some of our outfielders when we drafted sluggers early.

I’d rather have cash, but a good guess.

by tim815 on Jul 29, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

That's exactly why I picked him.

He’s basically a trash guy now unless he gets kicked in the head and lives up to his potential.

Randy Wells. A product of the Roy Halladay School of Pitching, located in Toronto, Canada. Possible relocation.

by Cub Style on Jul 29, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Calling him a "trash guy" is a little much.

He’s still young enough that he could get things figured out. I would consider it a good pickup for us if we got Rowell for Hill.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 29, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

sorry, i still have visions of Hill blowing down the Reds

the day after the Cubs took the division in Cincy 2007 … How tragic the fall. I hope he does get it figured out for his sake. Watching him that day was so full of promise ..

Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..

coda

ELO, 1975

by cubnational on Jul 29, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh - I was talking about Rowell, not Hill.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 29, 2009 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Well that's why I put the whole "unless" thing in there.

But if he doesn’t turn it around he’ll be a AAAA guy AT BEST.

Randy Wells. A product of the Roy Halladay School of Pitching, located in Toronto, Canada. Possible relocation.

by Cub Style on Jul 30, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Hill was a major disappointment

who the hell wantgs him back

by left shark on Jul 30, 2009 1:16 AM CDT reply actions

The PTBNL is...

Nick Markakis.

</sarcasm

by FloridaCubsFan on Jul 30, 2009 7:57 AM CDT reply actions

That would bring tears of joy to my eyes.

Randy Wells. A product of the Roy Halladay School of Pitching, located in Toronto, Canada. Possible relocation.

by Cub Style on Jul 30, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

In case anyone hasn't noticed...

…there’s now a Fanshot up with an update on the Rich Hill trade.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions