Report: Twins interested in veteran starter Rich Hill

With Joe Ryan and Chris Paddack on the injured list, the Minnesota Twins need starting pitching. While the opportunity to add an arm at the trade deadline has passed, Minnesota could be looking to other methods to upgrade the rotation and it could include going after a former Twins pitcher.

Rich Hill hosted a showcase for MLB clubs on Friday and the Twins were in attendance, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic . The 44-year-old also drew interest from other teams including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers but he hasn’t pitched in the major leagues this season as part of a plan to join a contender and be at full strength during a pennant race.

It seems like a desperate pull from the Twins, who have been chasing starting pitching since the year began. Minnesota opted against signing a big name like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery in free agency, and Anthony DeSclafani, who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the Jorge Polanco trade, was out for the season with a flexor injury before he threw a pitch for the club.

Despite any disappointment, the lack of activity allowed Minnesota to see what it had on the back end of the rotation. While Louie Varland failed to hold onto a starting spot and Paddack has been on-and-off the injured list after missing most of the 2023 season following his second Tommy John surgery, Simeon Woods Richardson has been a pleasant surprise with Bailey Ober also enjoying a career year.

Still, the Twins needed starting pitching at the trade deadline and a deal never happened, in part to the high asking price of other clubs and the team’s payroll restrictions in the wake of an uncertain television deal. With Trevor Richards the lone acquisition at the deadline, the Twins forged into the second half before Ryan suffered a Grade 2 strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder and is expected to be out for a significant amount of time .

The Twins have received a pair of solid starts from David Festa, who will start Sunday’s series finale with the Cleveland Guardians, but they could also use a veteran arm to stabilize the group down the stretch.

Hill could fill that role if they get his early-season performance with the Pirates in 2023. Hill allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 of his first 17 starts last season before tailing off and being placed on waivers. Hill’s performance went off the rails once picked up by the San Diego Padres, going 1-4 with an 8.23 ERA and one appearance over five innings.

Hill’s 2023 season put an idea that he thought of in 2022 where he would skip the first half of the year, spend time with his family and choose a team in playoff contention to join for the pennant race. While the Pirates gave him $8 million to abort that plan a year ago, Hill stuck with it this season and told Ian Browne of MLB.com that he turned down three offers to pitch the entire season.

MLB Trade Rumors also reported that Hill isn’t interested in a large sum for his services either, which would fit right in with the Twins’ frugal operations this season.

Signing Hill wouldn’t inspire confidence among the Twins’ fan base, who watched Hill grit his way through a 2-2 record and 3.03 ERA during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. But it may be a preferred path over calling up a top prospect like Zebby Matthews and providing insurance in case Paddack or Ryan suffer a setback in their recoveries.

With limited options, it makes sense that the Twins would kick the tires on Hill. But with other teams in the mix, it’s not a foregone conclusion that he winds up in Minnesota.

This article is courtesy of Athlon Sports writer Chris Schad.