According to Rob Bradford of WEEI, the Boston Red Sox will sign veteran pitcher Rich Hill to a minor league deal. Hill will likely make several appearances in Triple-A Worcester before joining the big league team. If all goes well and Hill joins the Red Sox, 2024 will mark his 20th big league season and fourth separate stint in Boston.
This will be the eighth time Rich Hill has signed a free agent contract with the Red Sox. Not a joke. Fact.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 16, 2024
Boston Red Sox To Sign Rich Hill
Boston’s starting pitching depth has been tested seemingly all season. Even after adding at the deadline, the starting depth still presents an issue due to James Paxton‘s calf injury. The Red Sox will sign Hill, hoping the fully rested veteran can give its staff the boost they need during a tight Wild Card race.
Hill split 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres. The lefty largely struggled, posting a 5.41 ERA (81 ERA+) in 146 ⅓ innings (32 games). His struggles and age made many wonder if he would retire in the offseason.
While the 44-year-old likely does not have what it takes to make it through an entire season, he always remained committed to pitching in 2024. There’s logic in wondering if Hill could provide quality innings in only September and October.
Despite his recent struggles, Boston might represent the best candidate to maximize Hill’s ability. Boston’s new regime and pitching philosophy believe in pitchers not throwing their four-seam fastballs. Hill relied on an iconic curveball in his prime, while his sinker generated the best results last season. Even past his prime, Hill might be the perfect pitcher for Boston’s staff to work with.
Rich Hill is close to formalizing a minor-league deal with the Red Sox. Here he is moments after last Friday's workout (which the Red Sox were very impressed by) https://t.co/pFWSp3wFu6 pic.twitter.com/xQbyd038VP
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) August 16, 2024
With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, deciding to sign Hill could represent the last pitching upgrade a contending team could make ahead of the playoffs. This logic clearly resonated throughout the league as multiple contenders attended a Hill bullpen session last week.
The Red Sox likely felt increased motivation to sign Hill following Paxton’s injury. With Paxton out, Boston’s starting rotation features only four pitchers. After his bullpen session, Hill told Bradford that he was prepared to pitch five or six innings per outing. Though he’d likely shift to the bullpen in October, the Red Sox might seriously need Hill to provide traditional starter innings in September.
Main Photo Credits: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
