STL Today - Cardinals sign former Cub pitcher Rich Hill

Jan 27, 2010 in St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals sign former Cub pitcher Rich Hill

April 24, 2007 - Chicago Cubs pitcher Rich Hill throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers,. (M. Spencer Green/AP)

BY JOE STRAUSSST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH01/27/2010

The Cardinals may have made themselves a little bit deeper on Tuesday.

Betting no more than $575,000, the Cardinals signed ex-Chicago Cubs lefthander Rich Hill to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league camp. Hill will headline a group of 17 non-roster invitees that includes eight pitchers and four catchers due to report on Feb. 17.

Hill, who turns 30 in March, will receive an opportunity to compete with reliever Kyle McClellan and rookie lefthander Jaime Garcia, among others, for the fifth starter role.

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The Cardinals insist Hill is healthy after requiring surgery in August to repair a tear in his shoulder cartilage. It is thought that Hill walks into camp with an edge in experience.

Hill struggled to a 3-3 record and 7.80 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts) last season with the Baltimore Orioles. Dogged by command problems in recent seasons, Hill struck out 46 against 40 walks in 57 2/3 innings. He lasted only five starts with the Cubs in 2008 before control issues led the club to option him to Triple-A.

Hill helped the Cubs to a 2007 NL Central crown when he constructed an 11-8 record and 3.92 ERA in 32 starts. That season, the curveball pitcher struck out 183 in 195 innings, compiling a 2.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowing 1.195 runners per inning.

The Cardinals hope that improved health and exposure to pitching coach Dave Duncan and bullpen coach Marty Mason will help Hill’s command.

“We feel he’s healthy,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “He feels that he’s stronger than he ever was last year. It’s the best he’s felt since ‘07.”

After stating a need for greater competition for the rotation’s final spot, the Cardinals appear unlikely to engage free agent John Smoltz about a possible return.

The Cardinals will bring 55 players into major-league camp.

Non-roster invitees include eight pitchers: Hill, the system’s pitcher of the year Lance Lynn, Evan MacLane, Pete Parise, Onell Pere, Fernando Salas, Eduardo Sanchez and knuckle ball thrower Charlie Zink.

Catchers Tony Cruz, Charlie Cutler, Steven Hill and Robert Stock also will attend. Stock received a non-roster invite less than a year after the club selected him in the second round of the amateur draft.

Infielders Daniel Descalso, Ruben Gotay, Pete Kozma and Donovan Solano received invitations.

Gotay signed as a minor-league free agent and is given the best chance among non-roster infielders to break camp with the club. Kozma was the Cardinals’ 2007 first-round pick.

Tyler Henley, a Texas League All-Star, is the only non-roster outfielder scheduled to attend major-league camp.

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