Before a superb four-start cameo to close the 2015 season, Rich Hill had not started a major league game since he was 3-3 with a 7.80 ERA for the 2009 Orioles. In between, he was an oft-injured reliever who managed to appear in 119 games over five years with a 3.93 ERA.
The A’s gave the lefty $6 million.
Before a stellar 11-start cameo to the close the 2015 season with the Pirates, J.A. Happ had gone 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA working in a pitcher’s park for the Mariners. Prior to that he had been an inconsistent 51-53 with a 4.