Aaron Hill should be considered a D’backs trade candidate. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
My fellow staff member Joe Jacquez wrote over the weekend that the Arizona Diamondbacks were open to trading long-time catcher Miguel Montero. I suppose I was caught a little off-guard upon reading that since the one position the D’backs are thin organization-wise is catcher. To me, there are other candidates that are more obvious choices to be dealt because of position, salary or both. One of those players is infielder Aaron Hill.
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Why trade him? There is a glut of infielders on the Snakes. With youngsters such as Chris Owings, Didi Gregorius and Jake Lamb ready to play full-time, there is no room for the 32-year old veteran. Plus, his salary at $24 million dollars guaranteed over the next two seasons makes him a very expensive part-time player. Arizona could desperately use that money on other needs, namely quality starting pitching.
Possible destinations: The Washington Nationals were rumored to be interested in Hill at the trading deadline. They eventually traded for Asdrubal Cabrera who is a shortstop, and moved him to second. Cabrera is now a free agent. The Atlanta Braves might be another spot if they decide to hold off promoting Jose Peraza, their 2014 Minor League Player of the Year. The Oakland A’s could use someone at second and could target Hill as they try to go for it all before they lose Jeff Samardzija to free agency.
What will ultimately happen: Hill is not the D’backs’ most attractive candidate. That would be the crowd at shortstop featuring Owings, Gregorius and Nick Ahmed. There is still a lot of guaranteed money for a player coming off two down seasons. However, I think the organization would love to get a long look at having Lamb, Gregorius and Owings play in the same infield. Hill will be dealt more or less just to get the salary off the books and for the D’backs to continue the youth movement.