Rich Hill has landed back in the American League East, but still won't be coming back to Boston.
According to a major league source, Hill has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. (Robert Murray of Fansided was first to report the agreement.)
Hill had drawn interest from the Red Sox throughout most of the offseason, although the team veered off from a strong pursuit after agreeing to terms with another lefty starter, Martin Perez.
The Brewers and Mets were also in the mix for Hill's services.
The fit with the Rays is a logical one for Hill, who expressed a strong desire to a team that had a perceived chance to compete.
The southpaw's effectiveness continued in his only season with the Twins last year, totaling a 3.03 ERA in his eight starts. And while durability remains the biggest issue for Hill -- having gone beyond five innings just once in 2020 -- perhaps no team relies on their starters going deep into games less than the Rays.
Tampa Bay's rotation has lost two key pieces in Blake Snell and Charlie Morton, but the Rays did bring in Chris Archer, Michael Wacha, Collin McHugh to go along with holdovers Tyler Glasnow and Ryan Yarborough. They also possess some of the best young pitching prospects in the game such as Luis Patino and Brendan McKay.
