Boston Red Sox

Red Sox reportedly close to signing 44-year-old Milton native Rich Hill to contract

This would stand as Hill’s fourth stint with his hometown team in the Red Sox.

Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill reacts after getting the final out of the top of the fourth inning, still upset over the Rays Manuel Margot (not pictured) touching him up for a two run home run earlier in the frame. The Boston Red Sox hosted the Tampa Bay Rays in a regular season MLB baseball game at Fenway Park.
Rich Hill is reportedly back with the Red Sox for a fourth stint. Jim Davis / The Boston Globe

The Red Sox are reportedly close to bringing back a local product in 44-year-old pitcher Rich Hill.

According to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, the Red Sox are finalizing a minor-league contract with Hill, with the Milton native giving Boston some additional reinforcements for a beleaguered rotation.

According to Bradford, Hill took part in a showcase for three teams at Champion Physical Therapy and Performance in Waltham last Friday. The southpaw delivered more than 100 pitches as part of his workload. 

This would stand as Hill’s fourth stint with his hometown team in the Red Sox. He played from Boston in 2010-12, 2015 and made 22 starts during the 2022 season. 

Advertisement:

Hill did pitch during the 2023 season, making 27 total starts between the Pirates and Padres and posting a 5.41 ERA over 146.1 innings of work. 

Even though he fielded offers on major-league contracts this past offseason, Hill opted to sit out the first five months of the 2024 campaign in order to coach his 12-year-old son, Brice, in Little League. 

Hill’s addition comes as a critical time for the Red Sox, especially with veteran lefty James Paxton’s season likely over after suffering a partially torn calf on Sunday against the Astros.

Hill could potentially bump righty Cooper Criswell out of the rotation, although it remains to be seen just how much the 44-year-old Hill has left in the tank at this stage of his career.

Profile image for Conor Ryan

Conor Ryan

Sports Writer

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

Sign up for the Today newsletter

Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com