Rich Hill has found a new lease on life with the Oakland Athletics, but how long will he remain in the Bay Area?

Signed to a one-year deal as a free agent last winter, the 36-year-old Hill leads the American League with a 2.18 ERA and, dating to last season, has thrown 14 straight starts allowing three earned runs or fewer.

The rest of the baseball world is taking notice. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports “numerous teams were on hand in Seattle” to watch the free-agent-to-be make his last start Monday, adding “one scout from a first-place club flew in just for Hill’s outing.”

One caveat here is the rash of injuries that have beset the Athletics. Oakland had 13 players on the disabled list earlier this week, making it difficult for vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane and his staff to adequately gauge the team’s potential.

Hill could very well be traded, but it might not happen right away. “The A’s seldom throw in the towel on a season,” Slusser notes.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden lists the Kansas City Royals as a nice fit for Hill because he fills "a strong need” and has a modest salary of $6 million.