As the Arizona Diamondbacks are seemingly a suitor for free-agent second baseman Howie Kendrick, rumors suggest they're trying to trade an infielder, specifically Aaron Hill, according to Jon Heyman. The veteran won't be easy to move, but the D-Backs will need to make room if they want to sign Kendrick.
Arizona was linked to Kendrick in rumors much earlier in the MLB offseason, but it was said the team was unwilling to surrender another draft pick to the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. General Manager Dave Stewart came out and reiterated that once again, but reports continue to surface in regards to the team trading an infielder with the belief that their intent is to sign Kendrick.
However, if the Diamondbacks are focused on trading Hill and only Hill, they'll have a lot of work to do. Hill, 33, is owed $12 million in 2016 and he hasn't had a full or productive offensive campaign since 2012. That year he batted .302/.360/.522 with 93 runs scored, 26 home runs, 85 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 156 games.
Since then he's hit just .253/.310/.388 with 129 runs scored, 27 home runs and 140 RBI in 336 games over the past three seasons. He has also accumulated a -2.0 defensive WAR over that span, and 2013 marked the first time in his career he's ever finished a season with a negative defensive WAR.
Still, the 11-year MLB veteran can help a number of teams. If the Diamondbacks offer to eat, say, at least $4 million off Hill's 2016 salary, then there might be some takers. Let's see who could be interested (hint: they're all American League teams).
New York Yankees
The Yankees solved their issue at second base with the acquisition of Starlin Castro, but third base could remain a problem depending on Chase Headley's 2016 performance. Headley posted a weak .693 OPS in 2015 and added 25 errors in the field. Not that Hill is much better, but, if healthy, he can provide a nice backup/platoon option if Headley were to disappoint again in 2016.
Additionally, Hill can play second base, which would give manager Joe Girardi more flexibility when switching around the infield. Castro has logged most of his career games at shortstop, so Didi Gregorius can get some days off if needed without the infield talent being significantly compromised.
Hill got off to a good start in 2013 before injuries derailed his season. He certainly has the ability to put up comparable numbers that reflect his past performances, and in his contract year, it's certainly not crazy to consider.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels made some noise much earlier in the offseason, but they have yet to address their weaknesses in left field and second base. Trading for Hill wouldn't cost that much and it would put the infielder in a lineup of accomplished sluggers, which would likely give him the ability to see more pitches and be more productive on offense.
Johnny Giavotella probably isn't the team's long-term answer at second base and Los Angeles has more than enough room in their payroll to take on any amount of Hill's salary. Also, his bat could be used at the designated hitter position and it would probably be more effective than a majority of the team's other options.
Hill wouldn't be a groundbreaking acquisition for Los Angeles, but he could help quietly improve their glaring offensive issues.
Kansas City Royals
Are the World Series champions really going to enter the 2016 season with Omar Infante as their starting second baseman? He was statistically one of the worst players in the entire MLB last season and was quickly replaced by Ben Zobrist at the trade deadline. Since arriving in Kansas City prior to the 2014 season, Infante owns a .596 OPS in 259 games with just 89 runs scored and eight home runs.
Not much can be worse than that, right? So if the Royals can get the Diamondbacks to eat a majority of Hill's 2016 salary, then this could work out. Additionally, the Royals used Zobrist mostly in the two-hole when he came over from the Oakland Athletics, and that position in the lineup is where Hill has had most of his success (.273/.329/.468 with 287 runs scored, 84 home runs and 267 RBI in 477 career games).
Hill's style of offense also matches up with the Royals' identity. He has a career 84.5 percent contact rate, including a 92.2 percent rate on pitches in the strike zone. His career strikeout rate of 13.6 percent will fit into the Royals' lineup, which had the fewest strikeouts (973) in 2015 by a wide margin.
A change of scenery can really help Hill, who has a chance to re-establish his value heading into free agency after the 2016 season. He'll have a lot to work towards, which may entice teams to make a deal.
