With the Oakland Athletics struggling this season and unlikely to reach the postseason, the team could become sellers before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. One prime candidate to be traded is veteran pitcher Rich Hill.
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Marlins Reportedly Targeting Hill in Potential Trade
Wednesday, July 13
The Miami Marlins are reportedly interested in acquiring a starting pitcher and have identified Hill as a potential candidate, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Hill, 36, has been excellent this season, posting a 9-3 record with a 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. Hill was also the American League Pitcher of the Month for May.
This season has been quite the renaissance for Hill, who hadn’t started 10 or more games in a season since 2009. But after a dominant four-game showcase for the Boston Red Sox last season and his excellent form this year, the veteran has surprisingly ascended to one of the most attractive starters on the trade block.
The Marlins aren’t the first team to have shown interest in Hill, however. According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, scouts from five different teams—the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers—were on hand to watch his start on July 7.
Hill isn’t letting the potential of being traded distract him, however, as he told the Bradfo Show podcast (via Rob Bradford of WEEI.com):
…Experience has taught me that staying in the moment is the most advantageous thing that you can do. That’s basically what I’ve been doing every single day, staying in the moment and preparing myself for my next start here in Oakland. I’m being 100 percent honest about this, there really hasn’t been too much thought about being traded somewhere. The only thing that I can control is what I’m doing today and that’s really it. I’m doing everything I can do in that day to get better and work toward that next start. It’s something out of my control.
That mentality should serve Hill well, though it seems inevitable he’ll be moved to a contending team before the trade deadline.
While the Marlins may be that team, the organization is also considering Tampa Bay’s Jake Odorizzi and San Diego’s Drew Pomeranz, according to Jackson.
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