Padres get Hill as third-base insurance

By Jim Callis
November 21, 2005

For the second time this month, the Padres have traded for a third baseman. In case Nov. 3 acquisition Vinny Castilla can't hold up for a full season at age 38, San Diego now has Bobby Hill after acquiring him from the Pirates for a player to be named later or cash.

The centerpiece of the July 2003 Aramis Ramirez trade for Pittsburgh, Hill never could grab a starting job with the Pirates. He got into just 58 games and received only 93 at-bats this year, hitting .269/.343/.333 with no homers and steals and just 11 RBIs. Speed is his best tool, and he's average or worse across the board in the other categories. He doesn't hit for a high average or have much pop—especially for a third baseman—and he doesn't stand out at the hot corner or at second base, his two primary positions. He's a career .262/.343/.350 hitter with six homers, 58 RBIs and six steals in 249 games.

Dec. 14 update: The Padres closed the book on the deal by sending righthander Clayton Hamilton to the Pirates. Hamilton, 23, went a combined 11-8, 3.30 in 150 innings between low Class A Fort Wayne and high Class A Lake Elsinore this season. He had a 104-45 K-BB ratio while limiting opponents to a .250 average and 11 homers. A 17th-round pick in 2004 out of Penn State, Hamilton pitches at 89-91 and tops out at 94 with his fastball. His slider is also a slightly above-average pitch at times. He has improved his command of his changeup since turning pro.