Los Angeles Dodgers: Surprising free agents that are a good fit
By Jason Reed
3. Rich Hill
This may seem like a surprise considering Rich Hill has been on the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last three-plus seasons but it still would be surprising to see the team bring him back.
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The Dodgers have a surplus of starting pitching heading into next season and after Hill missed most of the season last season, the team does not need to bring him back in any capacity. The team has enough arms to fill a rotation and then some without Hill, so they do not need to bring him back.
However, the Dodgers could bring him back in a different role, which makes this a surprise. This is a role for Hill that I have personally fallen in love with, as unorthodox as it seems.
The Dodgers would bring Hill back to be a pitcher in the bullpen. He would not be a long-relief/sixth rotation option like Ross Stripling has been the last two years. Instead, he would have a prominent role as a set-up man/closer hybrid.
It is no secret that Kenley Jansen is no longer the closer of old but the Dodgers cannot simply give up on him with how much they are paying him. Thus, the best option for the Dodgers might be to be creative and go with a unique closer by committee.
Hill is someone that thrives the first time he faces someone in the order. In 2018, which was his last full season, opposing hitter hit just .177 in the first inning against Hill, showing his ability to get three outs with the best of them.
In nights where Jansen either needs nights off or there are two or more left-handers due up, the Dodgers can go with Hill to close games. As crazy as it sounds, as he does not throw 100 miles per hour, his big looping curveball and unique pitch style would thrive coming out of the bullpen.
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Just imagine a team that just had to face Pedro Baez and Joe Kelly, who both throw 100 miles per hour, then have to face a big looping curveball from Rich Hill. That sounds as fun as it could be effective.