Orioles Rumors: MLB insider lists Baltimore as potential destination for Rich Hill

Earlier this week, MLB insider Robert Murray spoke with aging veteran Rich Hill about a potential return to the majors in 2024. Hill had turned down multiple major league offers earlier in the offseason, opting to instead spend more time with his family and help coach his son's little league squad.

However, Hill has expressed interest in returning to MLB in 2024, likely at some point within the next month. It's been reported that he'd like to go back to LA and pitch for the Dodgers again, though there are a number of factors that would determine their willingness to bring Hill back. Hill spent 4 seasons in LA between 2016-2019 before bouncing around the league over the last four years.

Despite being in his age 44 season, Hill has proven that he can still be a reliable option for teams in need of rotation help. He threw 146.1 innings across 27 starts between Pittsburgh and San Diego last year, pitching to a 5.41 ERA with a 4.87 FIP.

Hill likely won't provide ace-level production moving forward but to that point, he's only posted an ERA over 4.00 in 2 of the last 10 seasons. Yes, those two seasons came in the last two years but he's been consistently good enough in his 40's that most teams in need would likely be willing to take the chance on him as a depth option for the second half of the year.

Rich Hill would be a perfect fit in the Orioles' rotation

Thanks to a number of injuries to their rotation, the Orioles fit the bill for the type of team that might reach out to Hill about a return. They recently sent lefty Cade Povich back down to Triple-A Norfolk after a rough handful of outings in June and July. As it stands this morning, the O's have just 4 starting pitchers on the active roster, with Povich, Bruce Zimmermann, and Jonathan Heasley down in the minors on the 40-man.

With the O's pitching depth running thin, Hill makes sense as someone who could come in and provide solid innings in August and September while helping the team push toward their second straight AL East title.

Hill also makes sense because they could just pay him, rather than spending prospect capital to acquire another starter in the trade market. Mike Elias has been a bit timid when it comes to making mid-season deals. While that could change, a one-year contract for a free agent is likely preferable to moving a prospect or two for a rental pitcher.

Ultimately, we'll have to wait and see how the O's handle the trade deadline in a couple weeks. But one way or the other, we expect them to make a move to address the rotation before heading into the season's final two months.