Rich "Over-The-Hill" Hill

EDIT: It's official. Not only has Rich Hill been traded to the Orioles for "a player to be named later", but Baltimore has officially become the "Graveyard for failed prospects and washed up players from the Cubs organization"

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Sources from Baltimore on MLB Trade Rumors are reporting that the Cubs are extremely close to striking a deal with Orioles for Rich Hill, who is out of options. Thanks to his recent affliction with Steve Blass disease, Hill's value has plummeted from #2 starter status to questionable future. Unfortunate and frustrating as it may be, Hill still possesses tremendous upside -- his K/9 rate has remained consistent and strong, despite his poor performance in both the minor and Venezuela leagues. If he can fix his control problems, which many speculate to be mental, Rich Hill could easily return to form as one of the NL's top hurlers (at 28 years old, Hill is right in his prime). The fact that Hill's pre-2008 major/minor league control rate hovers around 3 tells me that either he was injured or that he made some kind of adjustment last year that simply needs to heal or be unlearned/fixed. FX data from Rich Hill's major/minor league starts indicate that he still has his filthy stuff; he just needs to start hitting the zone consistently again.

This is why I feel selling low on Hill for the infamous "player to be named later" (10 LB of fish?) is a not only a bad idea, but a terrible one. At near zero value -- how many players to be named later have ever excelled? -- Rich Hill can only provide a positive impact value for the Cubs in 2009.

Hell, if he doesn't, just cut him loose mid-season.

As much as I like the Aaron Heilman deal made this week, this fire-sale of out-of-options players by the Cubs is a terrible decision.