Rumor Roundup: Lefty Hill in high demand

The Hot Stove season is underway, and we’re keeping you up to date with the latest free-agent news, trade buzz, rumors and more.

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Four teams all in on Hill

Free-agent pitcher Rich Hill should have plenty of options to mull over in the coming weeks, as the Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers and Astros are in “full pursuit” to sign him, according to ESPN’s Jim Bowden.

Hill is thought to be the top free-agent starting pitcher on the market despite the fact that he will enter his age-37 season in 2017. In 20 starts for the A’s and Dodgers in ’16, Hill boasted a 12-5 record and 2.12 ERA on his way toward compiling his first season with at least 100 innings pitched since 2007. The left-hander’s 2.00 ERA over the past two seasons ranks second behind Clayton Kershaw among starters who have thrown at least 120 innings in that time.

Though questions remain about Hill’s durability, an extremely thin market for starters has created high demand for the southpaw. Bowden also indicated the Red Sox and the Orioles — two teams that Hill has previously played for — have also shown some interest in acquiring him.

Pirates listening to offers The Pirates are listening to potential offers for players who are under contractual control as they try to balance current success with an eye toward the future, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal. Those players include second baseman Josh Harrison and center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

Harrison, entering his age-29 season, had a down year by his standards, hitting .283/.311/.388 with an adjusted OPS that was 15 percent worse than the league average. He is guaranteed $18.5 million over the next two seasons, including a $1 million buyout on a $10.5 million option for 2019. The Pirates were looking to re-sign infielder Sean Rodriguez with plans to trade Harrison before Rodriguez signed with the Braves, according to Rosenthal.

McCutchen, who turned 30 in October, had a career-worst year at the plate, batting .256/.336/.430 and striking out a career-high 143 times. The Pirates owe McCutchen $14 million in 2017 with a $1 million buyout on a $14.5 million option for 2018.

Sources: Cardinals interested in Turner

Add the Cardinals to the list of teams interested in free-agent third baseman Justin Turner.

Sources told MLB.com’s Jon Morosi that St. Louis is interested in the 32-year-old, who hit .275/.339/.493 with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs in 151 games last season. Turner rejected a qualifying offer and would require the forfeit of a Draft pick by the team that signs him.

Payroll will be an issue for St. Louis in making an attempt to sign Turner, however; the Cardinals currently have just shy of $120 million committed for next season, not including several players who are eligible for arbitration.

Infielder Jhonny Peralta would be the most realistic player for the Cardinals to trade should they go after Turner, according to Morosi. The 34-year-old will earn $10 million in 2017 before being eligible for free agency and could be replaced at shortstop by Aledmys Diaz, who hit .300/.369/.510 with 17 homers in 111 games as a rookie while filling in for an injured Peralta.

Yanks play waiting game on Chapman The Yankees are the front-runners to land flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is adopted, but not if his price tag reaches five years at $100 million, according to the New York Post.

The 28-year-old left-hander, who helped the Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years, could end up signing the largest contract ever for a reliever. But CBA negotiations over the luxury-tax threshold have delayed deals from being struck, as clubs have been reluctant to give general managers a budget while that issue is pending.

The Reds traded Chapman to the Yankees following the 2015 season, and New York then dealt to Chapman to Chicago in late July. In 28 appearances for the Cubs (26 2/3 innings), he posted a 1.01 ERA with 16 saves and 46 strikeouts.

The Post also reported that the Yankees are not likely to sign free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion to the five-year deal he is seeking. Former Yankee Carlos Beltran, who turns 40 in April, may be a more attractive option in that case.

D-backs expect calls for young starters The D-backs now boast five starting pitchers between 24-27 years old after acquiring right-hander Taijuan Walker from the Mariners on Wednesday and expect multiple teams to be interested in their young starters, according to FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal.

Walker, 24, joins right-handers Archie Bradley (24) and Shelby Miller (26) and left-handers Patrick Corbin (27) and Robbie Ray (25) in Arizona’s stockpile of young arms.

Corbin is under contractual control through 2018, Miller through 2019, Walker and Ray through 2020 and Bradley through 2021.

All five pitchers were at one time considered top prospects and have experienced varying degrees of success and struggles at the Major League level, but their talent and contracts are sure to draw interest as Arizona potentially looks to retool under a new …

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