Free agent left-hander Rich Hill is representing the United States in the Premier12 tournament, scheduled to start Thursday night’s game. But he’s open to returning to Major League Baseball in 2025, which would be his age-45 season.
“I obviously love the game of baseball, I love the work and competition or I wouldn’t be doing this,’’ Hill says to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “But we’ll see what the future holds as far as playing. I’m not sure if this will be it or not. I think we’ll probably know in a month or so. I’d love to play another year and have an opportunity to get into the postseason and win a World Series. That’s everybody’s dream. I’ve been close a couple of times, but it’s not like anything I’ve experienced in the game. Playing in the postseason, there’s nothing like it. Nothing at all like it.’’
Despite that willingness to keep taking the mound, he also seems to be aware the opportunity might not come. “I know I can still provide innings,” he says. “But, if not, and that’s it, I can call it on my own terms, knowing I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of really cool experiences in this game.’’ If Hill doesn’t get the playing opportunity he’s looking for, Nightengale relays that Hill would be open to non-playing roles, perhaps in coaching or some other off-field position.
Hill is coming off an experimental 2024 season that didn’t go especially well. He tried to follow through on a creative plan wherein he would intentionally sit out the first half of the season. The idea was that he could spend time with his family and keep his arm fresh for a stretch run, then pick his landing spot based on how the season was playing out.
It was an unorthodox script but one with some thought behind it. Hill signed with the Pirates in 2023 and pitched decently, posting a 4.76 earned run average. But he then got flipped to the Padres before his results backed up and the club fell from contention. The idea behind his 2024 plan was that he would save his gas for later in the year, as opposed to running out in the late summer. He would also theoretically reduce his chances of playing out the final days of the season on a club out of the race.
Unfortunately, the theory turned out to be better than the praxis in this case. Hill followed through on his plan by keeping his arm ready on his own time. But then he settled for a minor league deal for the Red Sox, a fringe contender, in the middle of August. They did add him to their roster in late August but let him make just four relief appearances, in which he posted a 4.91 ERA, before designating him for assignment and then releasing him.
Presumably, Hill is considering a move back to a more traditional timeline for next year, since he says he’ll probably know “in a month or so” whether he’s coming back or not. The 2024 season doesn’t give him much to market to clubs, but he was a fine innings eater for the first half of 2023 and had an ERA around 4.00 in the two prior campaigns. He tossed 158 2/3 innings in 2022 with a 3.86 ERA and then a 4.27 ERA over 124 1/3 innings in 2023.
Given Hill’s age, it’s remarkable that continuing to pitch is even a consideration, but his career arc has rarely taken the obvious path. He had some early career success almost 20 years ago now, including throwing 195 innings in 2007 with a 3.92 ERA. But injuries and underperformance led to a decade of him toiling away without much to show for it. From 2008 to 2014, he was only able to throw 153 big league innings with a 5.41 ERA, bouncing around to various clubs.
But then he had an amazing career resurgence that started in 2015. He parlayed a strong showing with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League into a deal with the Red Sox. A tiny 1.55 ERA in four starts with Boston led to a $6MM guarantee on a one-year pact with the Athletics for 2016. He would post a 2.12 ERA that year between Oakland and the Dodgers, getting traded midseason. That led to a three-year, $48MM deal to return to Los Angeles, a contract that started in his age-37 season, an amazing time for a pitcher to get his big payday.
He gave the Dodgers 327 innings with a 3.30 ERA over the course of that deal. His time with the Dodgers was also when he got most of the postseason experience that he clearly treasures. He did toss three playoffs innings for the Cubs way back in 2007 but then 50 postseason frames for the Dodgers from 2016 to 2019. Unfortunately, a ring eluded him in that time. The Dodgers finally won it all in 2020, their first title since 1988, but Hill signed with the Twins that year.
The results haven’t been as good lately, but that’s not really too surprising, considering his age. Perhaps Hill can again defy the odds and engineer another comeback. If not, one of the more unique trajectories will finally wind down.
Gmen777
He’s aiming to pass the GOAT Jamie Moyer!
nukeg
45. Past his prime. Unsure of future. Has a left arm and still has a pulse.
Mr. Hill, Perry Manasian on Line 1.
Joemo
Jamie Moyer has over 4k IP and 638 games started. Rich Hill has 1409IP and 248 games started.
Let’s not compare the two.
SteveFinleyEnthusiast
I’m open to dating Dua Lipa
Sox67
Stand in the million line up
I’m 789550.
SteveFinleyEnthusiast
I’m seeing her concert in Tokyo on Saturday. I’ll put in a good word for ya
mlb1225
At least he’s realistic about his situation. Hope to see him pitch again though. Probably wouldn’t be the worst pitcher on the Marlins or White Sox, or Rockies roster right now.
Fever Pitch Guy
mlb – That’s the thing, I think we all would like to see him pitch again …. but not on our team if it’s planning to contend.
What the Red Sox did last year, making Paxton and Hill their “big starting pitcher acquisitions”, was a real slap in the face to their fans. Rushing Hill to the majors after hardly pitching at all in the minors was another ridiculous decision that led to embarrassment for both the team and Hill..
The Red Sox were still in the playoff run, but they let Flaherty go to the Dodgers and Kikuchi go to the Astros and Scott to the Padres and instead they picked up two SP off the scrap heap. That’s why they will always be remembered for one thing, constantly deceiving and lying to their fans.
NYCityRiddler
It’s not that I’ve lost interest in seeing Hill pitch again it’s that I never had any to begin with. Let’s keep the line moving Rich! Ahahahaha!
Fever Pitch Guy
NYC – For a couple years I made a few bucks betting on his blisters …. they didn’t call him Blister Boy for nothing!
Randy Red Sox
Sox may well bring him in 2025
Fever Pitch Guy
Randy – Their relationship didn’t end on good terms last season. As much as he’d like to pitch close to home, I think that ship has finally sailed.
This one belongs to the Reds
Why not?
MysteryWhiteBoy13
Is this the fifth starter of Ross Atkins dreams
FatChance65
I hear Sandy Koufax is available.
letitbelowenstein
89 next month and still probably throws harder than Hill.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Don Drysdale wants to know why his phone isn’t ringing
Assdribble_Cabrera
I didn’t know coffins had phones.
HiredGun23
Dude is done. He needs to transition to coaching or broadcasting.
Fever Pitch Guy
Hired – Hill shared the radio booth with Joe Castig at the very end of the season ….. I was not impressed.
Coaching would probably make more sense.
Ryan W
I don’t think he has it anymore
Waldo29
Incoming hate for someone who simply wants to continue doing what their passionate about. If a team is willing to give him a roster spot and he wants to keep playing, who are we to tell him to hang it up?
Personally, I love seeing players who truly love the game and want to play as long as possible versus others who clearly lack that motivation (cough…Anthony Rendon…cough)
AA_Cardinals
Perfect find for the STL Cardinals ride in 2025.
eatonculo
This is the kind of “low hanging fruit” Mo should sign. Low cost, low stakes, might hold a spot until another minor leaguer is ready.
Chicken In Philly?
He’s looking to be the #5 on a playoff contender. That probably wouldn’t work in St. Louis, no offense.
Tom the ray fan
I’d give dick mountain an invite to spring training anytime he wants
cooperhill
Duck mountain, LMFAO!
casualfan
I love guys like this. If I had the talent I’d have the same attitude. This business of retiring early, going out on top, blah, blah, blah. Stuff that. You’d have to drag my rotting carcass from the field. He’s only 45. He’ll probably live another 40 years. That’s a lot of time to wonder if you could’ve had one last chance. You never want to die wondering….
C Yards Jeff
Me too. Love this guy’s attitude. Half serious here. Orioles sign him to a player coach deal. Wherever Trevor Rogers goes, he goes. IMO, TR has the goods, maybe he just needs an attitude guy around him to help right the ship?
letitbelowenstein
Don’t go away mad. Just go away.
laynestaley2002
Great. I’m going to be singing that song all night long now.
stevewpants
I’m open to pitching next year too, and I’m only 39!
Tigers3232
And lacking 5-6 different pitches as well as an 88 MPH fastball. Yes he’s lost some velocity. But he hasn’t been throwing 94 MPH for about 10 yrs. Touched 92 a few yrs in between. But overall his velocity is not down all that significantly.
I wouldn’t be overly excited if say the Tigers signed him. But if a team has an open spot on 25-man or players with options that could use some fine tuning being sent down he could be worth looking at in a Minor League deal. Guy can eat up some innings out of pen, spot start, or be available for mop up duties to preserve pen if game is a run away.
He was still producing positive WAR in 2023. In bis brief 2024 he was a hair under zero at -0.01 WAR. With the rash of injuries lately and # of arms who will be returning from injury and have limited usage, he could be an ok cheap option that would be easily expandable if roster spot needed(if he were to get called up).
He also brings with him yrs of veteran experience that could be valuable to a younger organization.
Joemo
Did you watch him pitch in 2024? It wasn’t good
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Okay now Dick Hill is just trolling us. Funny Ha Ha Dick Hill! Go retire you old coot !!
cooperhill
He wants his grandson to see him pitch!
Mikenmn
Darrah—did you intend to use the word “praxis”
funny…
Old York
4.35 SIERA in 2024? Not bad. Still has something in the tank.
EHenderson
Hall of Famer. Nothing left for him to prove.
gbs42
Great story and career to be very proud of, but he’s not a Hall of Famer.
Garywally57
Why wouldn’t he be open to pitching in 2025? He would make more money in one year than most people make working hard all their live.
mlb1225
Fun fact: Rich Hill is currently playing for Team USA. Three of their players on their roster were not born yet when Hill was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002, which include Termarr Johnson, Carson Williams, and Justin Crawford.
GarryHarris
Of course he’s open to pitching. Whether these free agents play well or even play at all they get millions. Who wouldn’t?
gbs42
And whether these owners try to win or not at all, they get billions.
Tigers3232
Hill signed a Minor League deal last season. So he was not even guaranteed a pro rated portion of minimum salary until he was called up in Aug.
For a guy whose made over $75M in his career he’s likely not seeking a pay day here. It was noted in the article(the body of words/sentences/paragraphs connected to headline) that he’s seeking a chance to possibly final see a World Series.
As also mentioned Hill knows that it could possibly no longer be an option for him. Maybe he gets a Spring invite and chance to prove he’s worth even a Minor League deal. He likely still could help a few young pitchers being around for Spring camp .
Rsox
As much as i like Hill, the end of the line was a few miles back…
Cohn Joppolella
A’s should sign him.
cencal
Screw the 2017 Astros
All of them should have been banned for life
JLA2131
Me too! Cause I’m open to making millions of dollars as well
dasit
hope he pitches until he’s 50. we need more fun stories like this. if i owned the white sox i’d lure bartolo colon out of retirement and make him the full-time DH.
Pedro Martinez’s Mango Tree
Red Sox opening day starter
Chuck from Uniontown
The sun never sets on old Dick Mountain.
Man What Runs With the Football
Reds should sign him and Charlie Morton. Maybe then the kids will learn to pitch instead of just sidling up to the rubber and throwing as hard as they can. Heck, even Bartolo Colon is still pitching in that Baseball United league in the Middle East and I think he’s over 50. Crazy how some of these guys are on their 3rd Tommy John surgery and some other guys are still pitching in their 40’s and never had even one. I remember watching Jamie Moyer pitching and thinking even I could hit that guy and watching Major Leaguers whiffing on balls going 85 mph. Guess it’s all in the delivery, not necessarily the speed
Fred McGriff HR
Rich Hill is still doing ok. Maybe they’re not ML hitters, but his pitches still look good.
youtube.com/watch?v=lZ-vg3un4MY
rmullig2
I think some team will go full throttle and sign him.