Braves: One undervalued free agent at each position: Starting Pitchers

Today, I will continue this series of one undervalued free agent at each position, moving on to rotation options. If you’ve been paying attention, the market for starting pitchers is as hot as ever. The Braves have been linked to some marquee names, like Justin Verlander, but at the end of the day, they’ve just been too pricey, and I don’t expect that to change. Atlanta doesn’t necessarily have to add a starting pitcher before the start of next season, but they’d like to. However, they’ll only do it if they can find the proper value.

If you missed the first part of this series, click the link below:

• Outfield

Rich Hill

There are plenty of arms remaining on the market that the Braves would love to add; I’m just not sure any of them are going to be worth the contracts they will demand. But there are also some options that could be had on a one-year deal, and Rich Hill is certainly one of those candidates.

Hill is ageless. He’s going to be 42 next year, but like Charlie Morton, he’s aged like fine wine. In 2016, he posted a 2.12 ERA over 20 starts. In 2017, it was a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts. The following season — 2.45 ERA in 13 starts. Last year, Hill threw the most innings in a single season (158.2) since 2007 when he was with the Cubs and posted a respectable 3.86 ERA.

He’s not the innings eater that the Braves might like to have at the back of their rotation. Injuries have always been a concern with Hill, but on a one-year contract that shouldn’t cost the team too much, he’s a more than viable option. Hill also has plenty of postseason experience and success. In 13 playoff appearances (12 starts), he boasts a 3.06 ERA. This might be the best value the Braves can find on the market as far as starting pitchers are concerned.

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Photo: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire