Angels Re-Sign Free-Agent Hill to 3-Year Deal

The Angels solidified their rotation Sunday by signing free-agent pitcher Ken Hill to a three-year, $16.05-million deal with an option year and incentive clauses that could push the package to $22.35 million.

It seems a steep price for a pitcher who has never won more than 16 games in nine big league seasons, has a career 99-83 record and went a combined 9-12 for the Texas Rangers and Angels in 1997.

But the right-hander, who turns 32 in December, also has an impressive 3.76 career earned-run average, and his value jumped significantly when he gave up only 10 earned runs in 52 innings in his last seven Angel starts.

“When was the last time you saw a quality starting pitcher sign and you said, ‘Man, they got him real cheap?’ ” Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “It doesn’t happen. If he’s a quality pitcher, you have to pay him.”

Hill, acquired in a July 29 trade from Texas, will make $5 million in 1998, joining pitcher Chuck Finley and right fielder Tim Salmon as the highest-paid Angels. He’ll make $5.45 million in 1999 and $5.6 million in 2000, and there is a vesting option for 2001 at $6 million.

The fourth year will be guaranteed if Hill meets criteria for games started and innings pitched over the next three years.

Another bonus for Hill, who has played for five teams in four years: a full no-trade clause for 1998 and partial no-trade clauses for 1999 and 2000.

“My wife and I have moved around a lot, and that gets old,” said Hill, who was being pursued by the Colorado Rockies. “Now, we know where we’re going to be for three years, we can settle in and find a spot for my son to go to school.”

Hill will join Finley, Allen Watson and Jason Dickson to form four-fifths of a rotation that Bavasi believes will keep the Angels competitive, though Bavasi wouldn’t rule out pursuing another starter.

“Our first four pitchers are pretty solid--I feel great about those guys,” Bavasi said. “I’d like to hunt down another pitcher . . . but we’re also fortunate to have a guy like [knuckleballer] Dennis Springer around. He saved us last year.”

With Hill, the Angels have $26.4 million committed to 10 players in 1998, and the final year of retired pitcher Jim Abbott’s contract--a hefty $3 million--pushes the Angel payroll to $29.4 million, not including incentives.

Watson, who is eligible for arbitration, will cost a minimum of $2 million, and pitchers Mike Holtz and Dickson, first baseman Darin Erstad and catcher Todd Greene should receive significant raises over their 1997 salaries, which ranged from $153,000 to $175,000.

That means roughly $34 million will be committed to 15 players, leaving the Angels about $6 million for 10 more players if they hope to keep their payroll at $40 million.

Hill does not have to be added to the Angels’ protected list because he was a free agent when expansion lists were submitted last week.

“Right after the trade, Bill said he wanted to do something long-term,” said Larry Reynolds, Hill’s agent. “That makes a player feel like he’s wanted, and that’s important.”