Dodgers re-sign Rich Hill to 3-year, $48 million deal

The Dodgers have re-signed free-agent lefty Rich Hill to a 3-year, $48 million deal, according to a team announcement. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register first reported that a deal was close over the weekend.

Hill was reportedly pursued by the Astros, Rangers and Yankees this winter, though a return to the Dodgers always seemed like a strong possibility. As one of the top free-agent starters available on a weak market, Hill did well by getting a $16 million annual average value at his advanced age.

Hill re-joins Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Scott Kazmir, Julio Urias, Brandon McCarthy, Alex Wood and Hyun-jin Ryu in a crowded rotation mix for Los Angeles, though the club could trade a starter or two at this week’s Winter Meetings. The club is reportedly shopping both McCarthy and Kazmir.

Hill posted a 1.83 ERA in six starts for the Dodgers after coming over in a midseason trade with the Athletics, ending his season with a 12-5 record and 2.12 ERA in 110.1 innings.

Hill, who turns 37 in March, is a veteran of 12 major-league seasons with eight different clubs. He has experienced a career renaissance of late, being extremely effective in the majors over the past two seasons after a stint with the independent Long Island Ducks in 2015.