Rays Make Another Deal, Trade Hill to Mets
Updated 3:15 p.m. Tampa Bay made another trade on Friday, moving starting pitcher Rich Hill to the Mets in exchange for reliever Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matt Dyer.
The decision to trade the 41-year-old Hill (6–4 3.87) creates a lane for Luis Patino to remain in the Tampa Bay rotation. Patino, a 21-year-old acquired in the Blake Snell deal, went 5.1 innings on Thursday at Cleveland.
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In addition, it appears Chris Archer is closer to a return, as he threw three innings on Thursday, topping out at 95 miles per hour. Such a move would balance the team’s current rotation, as Michael Wacha has been the only right-handed starting pitcher, and the division is loaded with right-handed hitters.
The 41-year-old lefty Hill (6–4 3.87) certainly provided great value to the Rays during his stint here, and will get to go to a Mets team that is leading the NL East. Hill was the AL Pitcher of the Month in May. However, after giving up three runs in 34.2 innings (0.78 ERA) that month, he had slowed a bit since. Hill had gone beyond five innings just once in the past nine starts, compiling a 4.70 ERA during that time. Hill has pitched 95.2 innings, a pace that would have him surpass all but his totals in 2007.
In exchange, the Rays receive Hunter and Dyer. Hunter, who pitched for Tampa Bay in 2017, is on the 60-day IL with a back injury and has been out since May. Hunter is not expected to pitch this year, but the trade for the most part balances the salaries in this deal. Trading Hill also creates a 40-man spot, since players on the 60-day IL do not count.
Dyer is a fourth round pick from the 2020 draft out of the University of Arizona. Dyer played for St Lucie this year in the Low-A Southeast League. Playing catcher, corner infield and outfield, Dyer hit .194 with seven homers and a .781 OPS over 36 games.
