The Shine from Tampa are about to add a few veteran arms to your pitching personnel. The defending champions of the American League make the cut separate deals with left-handed Rich Hill and right-handed Collin McHughsources told MLB.com on Friday night.
The club has not confirmed either deal as both are pending physical workouts that may not be completed until spring practice begins next week.
If it goes ahead, Hill’s one-year deal will be worth $ 2.5 million, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, who first reported the Rays reached a deal with the left-hander. McHugh’s deal is for $ 1.8 million, as the Tampa Bay Times first reported.
In Hill and McHugh, the Rays will add two seasoned pitchers who seem to fit in perfectly with what could be another of their creative pitching plans.
Looking for off-season starting pitchers, the Rays led them to Michael Wacha, Chris Archer and now both Hill and McHugh, after parting ways with Charlie Morton and Blake Snell.
As teams try to safely handle the increase in pitchers’ workload from a 60-game schedule to a 162-game season, it looks like Tampa Bay is ready to rise to the challenge by loading with “inning- options “.
Adam Berry / MLB.com