Is it really perplexing? I mean, he was out of options...and he sucked right now...I think those two things are pretty much fact. Either they trade him for something/anything, or they risk losing him for nothing as he clears waivers. This was clearly the better option. I certainly understand the hand wringing over this, but I think that has more to do with Hill's failures than anything the Cubs failed at. Certainly you wish that the coaching staff could have worked him through his issues, but maybe it's just not meant to be. Better pitchers than Rich Hill (Rick Ankiel) caught a case of the mental yips and couldn't get it back, even with a pitching coach with the midas touch (Duncan), which Rothschild hasn't proven to be. I think this is just one of those moves that people will understandably be unhappy about, but understand. It's not that he was traded that's perplexing...it's the timing of it coupled with the fact that it's yet another trade with the Orioles that doesn't appear to help the team at all currently. Not trying to harp on this...but what part of the timing was perplexing? It had to be done before ST (or is it opening day?) or he had to be put through waivers. And whether you let someone pick him off waivers, or trade him for a minor leaguer, you weren't gonna be helped now either way.