Twins bolster rotation with veterans Rich Hill, Homer Bailey

The Minnesota Twins added two veteran arms to their starting rotation, signing free agents Rich Hill and Homer Bailey to one-year deals, the team announced Tuesday.

Sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that Bailey’s deal is for $7 million, while Hill starts with a $3 million deal that could reach $12.5 million with incentives. Hill, who turns 40 on March 11, is not expected back until midseason after having what is called primary repair surgery, which has a six months recovery time.

If he returns in time to make 15 starts or throw 75 innings, Hil’s salary will jump to $12.5 million, a source told Passan. He can earn $1 million for reaching five starts or 25 innings, another $1 million for seven starts or 35 innings, an additional $1 million for nine starts or 45 innings, $1.5 million more for 11 starts or 55 innings, $2 million on top of that for 13 starts or 65 innings and a $3 million bonus for his 15th start or 75th inning.

Hill is returning for his 16th season in the major leagues.

He worked his way back three times from an arm injury and two knee injuries to end the 2019 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Looking for the best online betting site? Visit Heritage Sports!

Bailey, 33, finished last season with a combined 13-9 record, 4.57 ERA and 149 strikeouts for the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals, who acquired him for minor league infielder Kevin Merrell before the July trade deadline.

Bailey struggled through the first six weeks of the 2019 season, but his split-finger fastball became more dominant as the season went on. He had a 2.28 ERA and 21 strikeouts over four starts in September, giving the A’s some additional help as they made a late run to a wild-card berth in the second half.

The veteran right-hander made 31 starts last season, his most since 2013, to show that various health issues that have plagued him in the past — he started the season on the disabled list each year from 2015-17 — are firmly behind him.

Bailey spent his first 12 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, making 212 starts and going 67-77 with a 4.56 ERA. He was traded from the Reds to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a seven-player deal that included Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp in December 2018, which meant Los Angeles paid the majority of the $23 million that remained on the $105 million, six-year contract signed with the Reds in 2014.

Bailey, who was released after the 2018 season, signed a minor league deal with the Royals in February.

Get all the latest Betting and Sport News updates on your social media outlets. Find us on both Facebook and Twitter