Red Sox lefty Rich Hill indicated after yesterday’s start that he plans to continue pitching in 2023, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Hill, a Boston native, indicated that his preference for his age-43 season next year is a return to the Red Sox, for whom he’s pitched to a 4.41 ERA across 118 1/3 innings this year. Hill suggested he would entertain the idea of signing only for half of the season, joining a club partway through the 2023 campaign, noting that he’d discuss specific plans with his family this winter.
With the Red Sox also set to lose right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Wacha to free agency this offseason, it seems likely that the Red Sox would have interest in a reunion. With youngsters Josh Winckowski and Kutter Crawford struggling to ERAs over 5.00 during their stints in the rotation this season, and team ace Chris Sale having pitched just 48 1/3 innings since the end of the 2019 season, it would appear Nick Pivetta is the only steady presence in the Red Sox rotation entering 2023 at the moment.
That being said, top prospect Brayan Bello has also pitched solidly in 10 starts in the majors this year, so he is likely to compete for an opening day rotation spot as well. Garrett Whitlock has pitched well in 78 1/3 innings this season, but the Red Sox seem to prefer him in a swing role between the bullpen and the rotation; of his 31 games played this season, only nine of them were starts, and he pitched beyond the fourth inning just four times. James Paxton could pick up his player option for 2023, but after missing the entire 2022 season and pitching just 1 1/3 innings in 2021, he can hardly be counted on for significant innings next year.
Even if a reunion between Hill and the Red Sox doesn’t work out, Hill should find himself with plenty of suitors this offseason. While he has only pitched to an ERA+ of 96, 4% below league average, Hill’s 3.82 FIP this year indicates that he may have been somewhat unlucky to end up with the results he has this season. He has stranded just 67.9% of baserunners this season, a significant dip from his career norms, and his BABIP has risen to .310 this year, a clip much higher than his career mark of .279.
On the other hand, Hill has seen his strikeout rate decline this season, with his 20.4% strikeout rate failing to measure up to his career 24.5% mark, or even the 22.7% he achieved in 2021. Whether Hill can expect positive regression next year or not, his numbers suggest he can still provide steady, back of the rotation production. Furthermore, despite being the oldest pitcher in MLB, Hill has largely managed to stay healthy in recent years, with a one month stint on the injured list for a sprained knee this July being his only injury since the start of the 2021 season.
He’s still got some gas in the tank.
wind – It doesn’t matter. His tires are bald, his tranny is slipping, and he’s got well over 200,000 miles on him.
It’s like Al Bundys Chevy that just keeps going
Yanks – Good analogy, but as President of the Al Bundy Fan Club I hafta point out Al’s car was always affectionately known as “The Dodge”.
Hey, if he wants to play, he wants to play.
wind – I like Hill and wish him well as he continues his career.
But if the Red Sox plan to compete next year, I’d rather have the roster spot filled by somebody younger than 43.
And if the Sox are planning yet another “building year” in 2023, I’d rather the roster spot go to a young arm who actually has a future.
I think Hill would be perfect on a low budget non-contender, or a team that already has a deep pitching staff and just wants Hill as insurance.
I’m just saying if he wants to play he’ll play alright?
Future cardinal. There’s no way they go into next season with only one 40+ yr old on the roster.
Just like J.A. And Lester went to the Cardinals?
Don’t forget these gems…Smoltz… Valenzuela… Mulder…
Well Mark Mulder was 27 lol
His shoulder was 62
“Oh look, an article that has nothing to do with the Cardinals, better bring them up since they live in my head rent free 24/7/365.”
-SliderWithCheese
I’ve laid out exactly why it has to do with the cardinals. Unlike you cardinal bums who live in the past, I see into the future. It’s forward thinkers like myself who run the world. Without us, there wouldn’t be penicillin, moon landings, or Costco. I’m done with you. Either pay me or get away
You’re simply pathetic. A worthless troll who contributes nothing, always trying to stir the pot with your ignorant comments.
Jonny,
Slider is pretty harmless. He is pretty equally discriminatory and hateful towards everyone and every team haha
Don’t forget Wade LaBlanc.
Speaking of aging SP, I noticed recently that Greinke had gotten his ERA down under 4.00, which I find impressive because it felt like he was over 5.00 not that long ago. Hope he doesn’t retire after the season.
Greinke has 4 more years left at least. He is a crafty vet, he’ll start doing weirder stuff and still be effective.
Rich Hill plans to pitch in 2033….
Hill has more to do to get to the minnie minoso stature of decades
Rich’s middle name is O’Vertha
Orioles should sign him
He killed the Orioles this year and years past
In fact, the Orioles had him at one time
Yep. E-Rod worked out pretty well for Boston.
He’ll sign halfway through the season with the Rockies.
At his age, family probably wants him to stay home. Thus, Boston remains his best option unless he does sit out the first half and come late May, Boston is again floundering.
Don’t look back Jamie Moyer, somebody is following you!
Beat me to the name drop… I wanna see someone make 50. Franco and Moyer were so close.
Maybe Brady will try his hand at baseball again.
Franco was “close” LOL. He was close on the other side of 50! Then there is Pujols (sorry I forgot the no cardinal thing).
Though I realize now I should have said, “something might be gaining on you” to better misquote Satchel Paige.
A’s will sign him
Rich Hill plans to enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2028.
Stealing money is so overrated rich hill. Give it up you can’t stay healthy and that arms not worth ten million bucks for a third of the season. Guys like him make me made baseball money is guaranteed because he knowingly knows he’s not gonna stay healthy whatsoever.
that arms not worth ten million bucks for a third of the season.
==================================
1-He’s a respectable #103 in IPs this year, way more than 1/3 of a season.
2-His current salary is $5M, not $10M.
Data is there for everyone to share.
“Guys like him make me made baseball money is guaranteed because he knowingly knows ”
We got a MENSA member over here!
had a stroke reading this lmao
Hitters plan to hit dingers in 2023.
He will forever be throwing his 70mph curveballs this guy’s gonna end up like Petey from dumb and dumber: remember that guy rich hill? He’s done. What happened? HIS ARM FELL OFF
Harry…..I took care of it!!
“Rich Hill ain’t THAT old!”.
— Julio Franco and Jesse Orosco
Baseball reference reports he’s made an average of 4.5M over 15 years. Let’s go with 5.5M to account for the missing salary data.
5.5M a year for a family man who I assume lives richly – no pun – isn’t a whole lot in todays world.
Maybe he just needs the money at this point. He never got that mega pay day an elite starter would have so depending on his money management skills, dude just might be broke.
Rich Hill has a net worth of $15MM as of May 2022…not broke.
What a cynic. Maybe he actually likes to play baseball.
Likes playing ball AND making money at it.
Not hard to figure.
Not a terrible way to make a buck.
Uh, yeah. Most of us like being paid for our work. Kind of expect it, really. Props to Mr. Game Face for keeping on.
BlueSkies, Cat Man on the hill Monday!!!!!! Yaaaaa Buudddyyyy!!!!
Fingers crossed. I’ll be at the ballpark for the final Urias start of the regular season on Tuesday. Kershaw’s is the next day. Sure looking like the setup for the playoffs.
Was trying to get down to 1 more game myself. I was fortunate enough to attend the WC game and game 6 of the NLCS last year. We’ll see how ticket prices start looking. I don’t know if I’ll get to see them again till next year. If I make it Tuesday I’ll wave at you. Just wear a little sign around your neck that says #BlueSkiesLA
@BlueSkiesLA
Not to disagree with you, however, didn’t you say on another article that it’s all about the money, not whether they(Hill & others) like playing in a certain location, or just love playing baseball.
What I said is players rarely if ever sign for a “home town discount,” and I doubt Hill would either. He might prefer to play in Boston, but assuming he gets an offer from them it will very likely be a market rate offer. That said the market for his services at age 43 probably won’t be very deep and with few comps. So it’s possible he gets only one serious offer.
Hill has made about $67 million in total. Let’s be extremely generous and say that his agent takes 8% of his salary. In total, that would be just over $5.1 mil. There are taxes though, but even in LA, the income tax is 13.3%. Let’s say that in total, he paid 15% of his total salary to tax. He’d still have just over $51 million in the bank, not counting any investments he made, or any brand deals or any income for using his name and likeness (like autograph sessions, or appearances in MLB video games). That is all rough estimating, but unless he is completley financially inept, he should not be even close to broke.
You forgot federal tax,
I wouldn’t mind him coming full circle and finishing his career with the Cubs.
The Red Sox really have an awful rotation.
ik, they really love crawford and winkvowski for some reason
Cubs – They also love Seabold … or maybe they hate him, continually putting him on a ML mound to get hammered.
Their pitching only shows up against the Yankees. The real problem is their offense thougb
Dick Mountain!
He’s the kind of guy that the Pirates pick up. Wins 4 or 5 games but looks good enough that a contender wants him at the deadline. The never ending Pirates SOP
I’m thinking pirates are gonna want do more next season then that
I get that he wants to continue playing ball, he’s a respectable pitcher, but to state that he’ll wait til mid season like he’s of star status is hilarious. If this guy waits til July to sign, he’s going to be a liability.
Yeah I have NO idea what the coming back “mid-season” thing is about…Never heard of anything like that before in MLB. Sounds like a misquote or something.
Bosox should sign Big Dick Mountain for one more year.
May as well try to play. Beats mowing the lawn and taking out the trash.