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Here are the fantasy implications following the news LHP Rich Hill has re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers:
Returning to the Dodgers provides Hill with a positive fantasy outlook. Dodger Stadium is one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks in all of baseball. In addition to Dodger Stadium, AT&T Park in San Francisco and Petco Park in San Diego are also kind to pitchers. On the flip side, high altitude in Colorado and Arizona makes the two remaining NL West ballparks very hitter-friendly.
Hill will be 37 years old this coming season, which will cause his draft stock to plummet. Despite the age, he should still be effective considering he relies heavily on a curveball, rather than a fastball. According to PITCHf/x via FanGraphs, Hill threw his curve 49.7 percent of the time last season. It is the best breaking ball in all of baseball (yes, even better than Clayton Kershaw's.)
The biggest risk coming with drafting Hill is the injury concern. Sure, every pitcher has a chance of getting hurt, but throwing a curveball requires a snapping motion in the wrist and the elbow, so throwing roughly 50 per outing can't be good for his long-term health. It wasn't until 2015 Hill truly found himself, but only once has he started more than 20 games in a season (2007).
Hill's 10.52 K/9 would have been the sixth-best in baseball had he pitched enough innings to qualify. Since you won't have to draft Hill in the early rounds to snag him, his strikeout upside mitigates the risk associated with drafting him. If healthy, he will be among the league leaders in strikeouts, ERA and WHIP on a competitive Dodgers team.