The Boston Red Sox entered August on the heels of the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East standings.
With the trade deadline now behind us, fans have a solid sense of just what this roster will look like during the home stretch of the regular season as the Sox look to position themselves best for a deep postseason run.
While the fans in Boston live and die with every pitch this time of the year, a member of the 2024 Red Sox roster is looking for a new MLB home as he is back on the free agent market after a short stint in the AL Central with the Kansas City Royals.
Former Red Sox SP Rich Hill Still Unemployed After MLB Trade Deadline
It is rare for professional athletes to continue to compete at the highest level well into their 40s. That is what veteran starting pitcher Rich Hill has accomplished, though, as he returned to MLB to make two starts for the Royals this past month, becoming just the 18th player in history to start a game at the age of 45.
Unfortunately, those starts did not go to plan, and the team released Hill after that second appearance. In the end, Hill's time in Kansas City ended with a 0-2 record, an ERA of 5.00, and eight walks to four strikeouts over nine innings of work. Those numbers are a bit more understandable when the pitcher in question is 45 years old and on his 14th MLB team. That doesn't make them excusable, though, and Hill was rightfully shown the door as a result.
As great a story as it was to see Hill achieve this milestone, the odds of him landing another contract with an MLB team this season seem slim. He was ineffective as a reliever for Boston in 2024, owning a 4.91 ERA in just over three innings of work. In addition, the veteran hasn't won a decision since the 2023 season as a member of the San Diego Padres. He wasn't exactly effective during that season either, finishing with a record of 8-14 and an ERA of 5.41.