While the Jays dithered for the better part of a week hoping their All-Star second baseman might recover and in time to make the home opener, questions regarding the nature and severity of his injury were allowed to swirl.
The Jays finally decided to place Hill on the 15-day D.L., on April 12th (retroactive to the previous Thursday), with an injury declared to be a strained hamstring that is perhaps a little more serious than anyone with the Jays has thus far been willing to admit.
Now this leaves the Jays with an even more serious problem regarding Hill than before. He is now developing an injury history. The better part of a season lost to a concussion (CNS problems that do not quickly resolve are always cause for serious concern) in 2008; and now in a season in which Hill needs to get off to a hot start in order to prove 2009 was not a fluke, instead we have an early trip to the D.L. after two games, 9 PAs and as yet uninspiring .125/.222/.250 (albeit after a rather hot spring, which counts for something or nothing, depending upon who one asks).
The problem here is that Hill can no longer just play through the first two months of 2010, while the Jays peddle Hill version 2009 to teams that are hoping to win-now around the All-Star break and need help or what they might hope is an upgrade at second base.
Now this is impossible. Teams will be looking much more closely at Hill after he returns, and as I argued last time, whatever numbers Hill posts early this season, they are unlikely to match his 2009. But now after a return from a significant stint on the D.L., suitors will be looking more closely at the merchandise, and more questions will be there.
This injury to Hill might well have repercussions for the Blue Jays for several years to come. As I said, the truth about Hill will become clear through this season, and trade partners are now much more likely to notice when deciding the worth of Hill version 2010 to their aspirations for this season's stretch drive, and going forward.
It might now be too late to trade Aaron Hill 2010 as if he's the same player as Hill 2009.
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